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Good morning from a lurker newbie here in Iowa. I was wondering when or if anybody has been out lately fishing for Crappie's? Esp. interested in the Coralville Res. & Lake Macbride. With lots of rain and cooler than normal temps I imagine this has slowed the process of them moving into the shallow waters for spawn.
What water temps do you look for when they do start to move into shallow water?
Thanks
Jeff-eastern Iowa
I've not been on those lakes but I fished a tournament on 12 mile yesterday the water temp started off at 53 and got up to around 55 in the afternoon. All the fish we caught were in 11-13 fow
Can't help you with those lakes, but Red Rock and Roberts Creek are starting to turn on. I would think around 65 degrees this year. Water was 60 at Red Rock and they were still suspended in deeper water , full of eggs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelvin
Kelvin
Thanks for the info! Macbride and the coralville res probably aren't too far away from the same temps. Fished Red Rock a few years back, it sure is a producer of great Crappie's! We had a blast down there.
Have a great day
Jeff
Red Rock was 60 degrees yesterday. Fish were scattered with the still high water, but bit well. I suspect this front will put the brakes on for a day or two but the weekend weather looks nice.
How far back in the creeks were the crappie at this point? I am heading out to Red Rock on Friday, so I can give everyone an update for the weekend. Looks like weather is finally going to break next week! Finally.....
Had a fun day Livescoping on Red Rock. Caught a lot of crappie today, ranging from 30 FOW to 4 FOW. Beautiful day to be out, just can't wait for the lake to go down, so the fish aren't as scattered. Good luck this weekend!
Attachment 342384
We saw you in White Breast , North of the power lines along the rocks on west side. We were in the Black Lund , 3 guys with long poles. I thought you must of been using a Live Scope the way you were both up front looking down at the screen. How do you like it? We didn't do as well, ended up moving to Roberts Creek. What were you getting them on?Quote:
Originally Posted by Showtime Fishin
We absolutely love it. If we didn't have it today, we wouldn't have done nearly as good with the fish scattered like they were. I usually spider rig lakes like Red Rock, but I'll never spider rig again. The clarity and accuracy of it is amazing. I can tell the difference between a 1lb, 1.5lb, and 2lb crappie. Nothing more fun than seeing the crappie come up and bite your bait. You won't believe how many times they bite that you don't even feel, but with livescope you can see them bite and still catch them. We caught some of them on a 1/32 oz hair jig, and also a 1/4 jig head with a Bobby Garland slab Slayer. Just depended on the fish. If they wouldn't bite the bigger bait, we'd go after with the hair jig. I have a link to a video of us using the livescope in a tournament on Lake of the Ozarks on the thread called "Garmin Livescope". I took more video today, so I'll probably be putting another up in the near future.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelvin
Thanks for the reply! I am afraid that is going to be on my list to get. Look forward to seeing your video from Red Rock.Quote:
Originally Posted by Showtime Fishin
Another question, Where did you buy yours from, what size screen do you have and whats the smallest you think would work?
Thanks
I'd like to see the difference in effectiveness in that and the HB 360. I can see the how both would have advantages in different situations. I spider rig with the 360 but haven't seen the Livescope in person yet. Hitting Red Rock after the rain quits today. We'll be in a camo Excel. Pounded them pretty good spider rigging yesterday. Good luck boys
Good luck to you, we kind of struggled yesterday spider rigging. Seemed to be scattered, did you make it up in white breast under Hi. 14? Seemed like a lot of boats up there, wondered how they were doing.Quote:
Originally Posted by HuntIa
I found the same yesterday for the most part, scattered. Found one creek channel out deep they was several fish in so just ran that back and forth most of the day. They were pretty sluggish in the morning with the drop in water temp vs. a few days ago when they were bending the rod tips in the water before you could set the hook. I would imagine today will be similar to yesterday but the weather next week looks great!
I run the echomap plus 93sv. They make a smaller 73sv, but I would recommend getting the 93sv. The bigger screen helps and I wouldn't go any smaller than that. I got mine from Cabela's when they had it on sale for 599. I don't think they are on sale right now, but they do get that cheap. Unfortunately, the livescope is yet to go on sale, and since it's on back order most everywhere, I doubt it goes on sale anytime soon. Definitely worth the investment though!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelvin
I have fished with both, and i personally prefer the livescope. For me it's hard to beat the live feed that shows how deep the fish are, how far they are from your boat, and how they are reacting to your bait. It so precise, I have hit the fish with the jig head on multiple occasions (that generally scares them LOL). I'm usually scanning back and forth 30' out in front of the boat, and then target specific fish. But what it really comes down to is putting fish in the boat, and if your getting that done with the hb 360 then that's all that matters.Quote:
Originally Posted by HuntIa
HuntIa- did you make it out today? How'd you do?
That's fair and I agree. If it helps you put fish in the boat use it! I'd still like to see the Livescope just to compare. We did ok today. We caught 50 or so fish from 1pm-4pm. They were pulled out farther today than yesterday. They were suspended high in 13 fow out in a creek channel. Males and females. Males didnt have much color. Caught some good ones but they were finicky. Had to go with the wind to get bit. 5 days ago were catching big fish in the same area in 4 fow but the water temp was 5 degrees higher. I would think by about Wednesday theyll be back in business and keeping 3 rods in the water will be difficult!
Glad to hear you found some good ones! We didn't find any true Red Rock giants on Friday, but caught some decent ones for our first time out on Red Rock this year. I am looking forward to getting out there again, and finding those 2 pounders. Below is the link to our video from our day out fishing Friday.
YouTube
Thanks for the video! If you get time sometime would like to see a couple shots of the screen, showing fish next time your out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Showtime Fishin
We definitely will. We were going to this last trip out, but we couldn't get the camera to mount properly. We will have that figured out for next time though. Thanks for watching!
Anyone heading out this week?
Hope to get out Wend. Thur. and Fri weather permitting. You?Quote:
Originally Posted by Showtime Fishin
Good Luck!!! Unfortunately, the soonest I will be out will be memorial day weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelvin
Let us know how it goes
Anyone do any good on Red Rock this week. We did ok Monday and Tuesday. Seemed to be deeper then I expected
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam 1
What was the water temp when you were out? I was out Wednesday and did fair. This weather we are getting now will have Red Rock on the rise once again.
I was out on Monday & got into a lot of small ones for RR. Temps were 64 up to 69 in different areas.
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
Was at RR: Tues. Caught a dozen in 2' water late when the sun came out.
Thurs 40 fish at 4' till late in the afternoon then on bank.
Fri. w/ a buddy. We caught around 100 w/a few smalls but mostly nice fish in 4'-1'
No idea the temp. no locator.
I know the weather has been crap this week but has anyone been out on Red Rock lately? Planning on hitting it this weekend.
Went yesterday, water temp in 60s. very high water, found some in 6-8' water. All females with eggs still in them. A few of them looked like they were ready to drop anytime, eggs more watery and defined. Minnows, spider rigging. Be careful, lots of wood floating.Quote:
Originally Posted by lovetohunt
We caught males and females both, bout half the females had already dropped their eggs. anywhere from 7-13 fow out on the flats.
Coralville and Macbride yesterday not even a bite.
[QUOTE=HuntIa;3841323]We caught males and females both, bout half the females had already dropped their eggs. anywhere from 7-13 fow out on the flats.[/QUOT
Not asking you to give up your spot. but when you say on the flats. do you mean on the main lake or up in a arm somewhere?
where can I find your link at for the video?Quote:
Originally Posted by Showtime Fishin
Here you go!Quote:
Originally Posted by dont885
YouTube
Did anyone make it out on RR Memorial Day weekend? just wondering about water quality and the bite.
Kid and I was out for a few hours Saturday and picked a few crappie, all had eggs still. Took awhile to figure them out and I feel like we were just going to start tearing them up and then had to leave due to other obligations. We were rigging with minnows. As far as water quality it was surprisingly clear but keeps rising by the day and temp was 62. They were pulling the Whitebreast ramp up higher when we left.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelvin
Quote:
Originally Posted by lovetohunt
Going to try RR tomorrow and Fri, Anybody know if any of the ramps are closed yet? I know the one off Ranger point is. Drove clear down there only to find it gated. Too bad they couldn't of put a sign on the Highway.
Usually like to use Elk Rock but when so much stuff floating would rather drive around and use WB
I do not know the answer to that sir. I typically use Elk Rock or the Marina depending on wind direction
I read somewhere that they shutdown Whitebreast at 777, its not there yet but should be close. I am thinking of giving it a try myself on Friday.