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Well everyone has always been helpful in the crappie world so I wanted to take a shot in this area. I would like to target some crackers and would like some help on how to get started. Where should I look and can you give me a little education? I have a boat and electronics so I think if I can get started right I can get going. Depths, bait, methods, water temps ... anything thing and everything is appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any help!
By the way, Watts Bar is my home lake.
I've always caught them in the same places as bluegill, but on the bottom or much closer to the bottom. I've had the best luck with earth worms but I'm sure they are many other options.
Fish around stumps on the bottom using red worms. We sometimes refer to them as stump knockers.
They are more elusive than bluegill, one day they are here, and the next day they are gone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Two Dog
Good luck
Thanks everyone. So to recap, fish on or toward bottom with worms and they like stumps. Any suggestions on water depth for this time of year with water temps running 64 to 68? Best place to look for beds? Sandy, rocky or mud?
Thanks again!
TD
Sandy bottom with wood or stumps close by. Start looking in 10fow in very calm water. Looking shallower at times. And fish slooow.
My method when I am searching new water.....
I put boat in 14 fow and fish a 30 wide path from there to the bank. If no fish is found I pull the bow of the boat into 5 fow spotlock the front and anchor the back. Now I fish parrel to the bank as far as I can throw at every depth. Fish are there you just gotta find them.
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Not always but tend to spawn deeper than blue gill (5-8 ft.). I fan cast or use side image to locate beds just out from blue gill beds . Lake points and middle of coves take little time to check with depth finders . I use 1/32 road runners fished really slow or worms , crickets or meal worms on bottom .
Awesome, thanks guys! Now I have a better idea of where to start and how to approach these critters. What water temp do they like to start bedding!
72≈ but they are patrolling and searching 68+. Thing to remember about shellies ... You catch 3or4 grouped up they get skittish. Then it's best to let them be for a bit.
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Pretty new to redears as well, got 2 years under my belt with them. First year was slow, pretty unproductive, but it was all learning... Last year all the homework really payed off, and got on them every month of the year. Others mileage will vary, but I found the fish FAR more predictable outside of spawning season, and nearly always willing to cooperate. And once you find features that hold fish, they will probably be there all year long...wont do you much good at the present, but after bedding season, look for sand/gravel flats with a fairly pronounced edge leading into deeper water. Summer time, they seemed to like to scatter around on the flats in the early hours, moving back to the edge of the drop off as the day heated up. Fall, same location, but reverse the pattern..(edge early, on the flat as it warmed). Winter time, same location, except the seemed to use the edge of the drop or even move down a little deeper. Early spring, same as fall. Nice sensitive GRAPHITE rod, for bite detection. Rigs and bait, I keep it very simple... 1/3 to 1/2 of a nightcrawler on a drop shot rig, with the hook no more than 8" from the weight (gotta be close to the bottom) Fish it slow! I found using a single rod in hand with that rig, Ive gotten VERY, VERY few, if any, deep hooked fish. However, do have plenty of extra terminal tackle, you WILL tie in to other critters, and you will get hung up onî occasion. (sometimes you may not get everything back) If I had to pick one depth to start looking on ANY given day, I'd go with 12'. Again, I'm no pro by any means, I just got advice from others, took it out onto the lake and kept at it until it came together for me. Good luck!!
You should post more often. Alot more often.Quote:
Originally Posted by KScott
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Warms are hard to beat but I will tell you they love 1/100 to 1/32 hair jigs. I fish with 2lb line to help get the light jigs down to them faster, and it makes them feel like mules when you stick one. They have always been one of my favorite fish to catch.
Man, I don't feel anywhere near the caliber of some on here....Lol. The 9 to 10.5" fish that usually make up my catch don't seem all that impressive... ��Quote:
Originally Posted by catchNgrease
This is wonderful information, thank you!