I'm taking tomorrow off and training a new area. Hoping to find a few Crappie and see if I can get a few gills and Shellcrackers. Always fun to go to a new lake and try and figure out a pattern. I'll report tomorrow evening on how I do.
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I'm taking tomorrow off and training a new area. Hoping to find a few Crappie and see if I can get a few gills and Shellcrackers. Always fun to go to a new lake and try and figure out a pattern. I'll report tomorrow evening on how I do.
Good luck.im sure you will wear them out.
Good luck DB!
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Looking forward to the report.
Do you fish for gills and shellcracker solely with artificial?
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Interesting day, I drove to Moulton, AL. They have a couple of lakes that are the city water supply, both about a 100 acres and about a mile apart. I tried what's called the "new" city lake today. I was a bit concerned when I arrived at day light, the lake was about 20 to 25 feet low! I decided to give it a try anyway and paddled over to the water intake quickly finding water 65 feet deep! I started jigging around it and caught 11 Crappie on a white Marabou jig about 30 feet deep. All were around 15 inches and returned for another day. I then moved on jigging isolated brush when I found it and working a 1" slider on the bottom on likely gill and shellcracker areas. I kept a limit of shellcrackers and gills, continuing to catch and release fish all day. This lake is very, very deep and the water drops off quickly. It's also very clear with visibility of about 6 to 8 feet. It's a little strange to watch a gill pick up your jig off the bottom in 8 feet of water. That said the action was nonstop all day, this lake is loaded with fish, especially small 12" or 14" bass. I'm about to go clean fish and will post a pic when I'm done.
Sound like an awesome day Ditch. I work with a few guys that say the bass fishing is also great there. I've never been on either of the lakes, but been by them hundreds of times
I kept a limit of 50, 21 of those were Shellcrackers. The gills were 9 to 10 inches, shellcrackers were 10" to 12". I had a limit by 9AM and spent the rest of the day tossing back keepers. Usually I'm struggling to catch a few shellcrackers, today I must have tossed back two dozen that were over 10" after I limited out.
Attachment 271533
Prater4586, I'm sure I caught over 50 small bass, most about a pound. I saw several in the 4 to 5 pound range. This lake is fun just to look around with the clear water. I'll try the "old" city lake next. FYI, both are kayak and john boat heaven, no outboard motors are allowed :biggrin
Awesome eating ! Congrats on a great day on the water!
Why to go DB. I fish lakes like that in my area, deep clear mountain lakes and most are city water supplies. Some are very good and some have lots of small fish. I fish a couple that have really big crappie and they taste better than any river crappie because they are really clean lakes. Also very clear, low vis line is a must on some of these lakes. Congrats on a great day.
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Is this lake a "electric motor only" lake ?
Yep, electric motors only.
Sounds like an excellent day exploring a new area. Thanks for sharing, and congrats on the catch!
Nice catch. I have been talking with my brother about the old City Lake he has fished it some a few years back and we have been looking at the new lake on google maps. I have been wanting to make it over there to try one of them out for the past month or 2. Looks like it might be worth the drive. Thanks for sharing.
flintcreek,
The gills are a little skinny, maybe stressed from the low water. You would have a blast with all the bass though. I'm not sure on the Crappie numbers, the water intake was the only place that I caught any and all were the same size, usually not a good sign. I'll let you know what I find at the old lake when I have time to get over.
John Doe,
I use red worms occasionally, but have been working hard to figure out how to catch gills and shellcrackers on artificials consistently. These all came off 1" Charlie Brewer Sliders on a 1/32oz jig head.
Thanks DB. I have never had much luck catching folks on artificial but want to challenge myself. Tanks for the infoQuote:
Originally Posted by Ditch Basser
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I've been catching more and more shellcrakers, but they're harder to figure out than Crappie!:banghead
I am lost on how to pattern BG and shellcrakers throughout the year. I know in general terms you can find them on the beds late May and thru June where I live. Other than that, I wouldn't know where to start outside of Google..LOL
Surprisingly I find the Gills and Shellcrackers (when off the beds) move deep when they can during the summer. I've started fishing for them with 1" sliders on a tiny jig head when on a rock bottom or shell beds. If there are stumps or brush I use a #4 hook, 1/32oz work weight and a 1 1/2" slider rigged like a Texas rigged plastic worm. Most fish are coming from 8 to 12 feet of water. I don't have it all figured out yet, just found some bedding fish on Madison County Lake and followed them deeper when they left the beds. Now I'm trying to replicate the same pattern in other areas and it's working out. Best part is fewer fish landed, but better quality. Not many dinks thy to eat a 1 1/2" slider.
That is great information - Thanks DB
Thanks for the pic'. I enjoy looking at the pic's people post.
Awesome day out DB, congrats!!!