Solo: How I caught crappie today. 10/08/2020

Buck Perry says that knowledge is the key to fishing success. He is exactly right. I had to go solo today and didn’t want to repeat what I had been doing the past few trips. First, let me give you the fishing conditions this morning.

Partly cloudy, 47,983 flow rate, 73 surface temp and a million Bass boats out chopping the water to pieces. I won’t say what I thinking about all these bass fishermen because I don’t want to get banned on this great family forum.

My magic lure today will make Scott Bunch and Neal Alvis happy for sure. It was a Bone White/chartreuse Crappie Magnet on a 1/16 oz Litewire jig that I powder painted. It was dynamite.
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I fished the main river in all that current. One offshore brushpile and then one bluff. The first fish that I caught on the first cast over the brush in 15 feet of water produced a tarp 14” crappie along with 2 other keepers, 3 shorts, and one spotted bass. Then on to the bluff.
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I know how to fish current. But I even enhanced my knowledge a bunch today. On the bluff, there is a shelf that is about 8-10 wide and 14 feet at the drop off into 25-40 feet of water. I setup my boat parallel to the shelf, nose of the boat pointed into the current and sitting in 25 feet of water. Spot lock on and Ivan holding steady. Knowing that the shelf was 14-15 feet deep at the drop off, I made short 15’ casts directly upstream and let the current bring the lure back to the fish in a natural presentation. The fish ate the paint off that little jig. Grin Much fun.

The bonus fish there was a little Smallmouth Bass.
Attachment 386109​
I will add a screen shot of the offshore structure that I started on and the technique was the same. Position the boat directly over the brush and make 15-18 foot casts and let the current bring breakfast to the little fishes.
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Great going. Always great reports. Thanks for sharing. Is there a bass tournament? I was thinking about going tomorrow. Thanks again.

Good catch and Great Hat, Go Vols. Fishing current is challenging but rewarding when it goes as planned. Fish on!

Nice!! Way to get the flow to work for you.
I haven’t mastered that yet.
I did just glean a new idea though.
Thanks for that.


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Originally Posted by Tenn Tux

Great going. Always great reports. Thanks for sharing. Is there a bass tournament? I was thinking about going tomorrow. Thanks again.

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There must be a big bass tournament going on. Early on there were 4 or 5 bass boats racing down river from up north. Dayton must have a tournament under way. Boats were scouting the past two days and today they were going nuts. Take a number and get in line if you want to frog fish the grass that has finally emerged on the Chick.

Phoenix Bass Fishing League (FLW) 8-9-10. Thanks for the heads up.

You continue to amaze us all with your unselfish reports. To show the bait, describe the technique and give basic instructions on the type cover on which the fish were found, is a benefit to those of us, who get to go less often, by at least giving us ideas to try. I salute you Sir !!!

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Originally Posted by USMA65

You continue to amaze us all with your unselfish reports. To show the bait, describe the technique and give basic instructions on the type cover on which the fish were found, is a benefit to those of us, who get to go less often, by at least giving us ideas to try. I salute you Sir !!!

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Thank you for the kind words. When I was young, no one would tell me anything about how to catch crappie. All I know is what I have experienced for myself. I have vowed to help as many people learn to fish as I can. I’m not the best crappie fisherman either by far, but no one will give out information like I do. They fish tournaments and I did too a few years ago, but even then, I gave out info. Most wont give you the air in a jug. Grin. Greedy and selfish is something that isn’t in my DNA.

BTW, you may not have heard one of my pet sayings. Don’t fall in love with a favorite lure or color because one day it will break your heart like your first girlfriend did. Lolol. Just because the fish ate the Crappie Magnet up today in the color that I showed, doesn’t mean that they will even give this lure a sniff tomorrow. I have said and still believe that Bobby Garland lures rule Chickamauga. But they aren’t my sponsor so I fish with Stump Bugs by Bonehead Tackle, Bass Assassin Panfish Assassins, Crappie Magnets, BPS 2” baby Shad imitations, and other things. I love to experiment.

Good fishing you all.

Thanks for sharing. Very nice read for sure. I think you keyed (unselfishly) on a couple of very important tactical approaches for others to take away if they're a mind to...
(1) how to capitalize on key (season appropriate) (transition) structure; and (2) how to use the prevailing wind and/or current to make a very natural bait presentation.
I would certainly agree with others that your willingness to show and share your knowledge and experiences is quite refreshing, interesting and valuable to this forum.

You always have good posts and stories and you are truly unselfish. Thank you for sharing and for helping others.

Great job and thanks for the report. I know it will help someone catch a few.

Good day for sure, congrats!

I really enjoy your teaching posts. My biggest struggle, and I have many, is interpreting what I see on my electronics. You are obviously quite adept at this interpretation, as you often speak of fishing offshore structures. I can find brushpiles, but I just can’t discern whether they have fish on them. Would you consider doing a post or two with some screenshots? It appears from your pictures that you have the same unit as me on your console.

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Originally Posted by footballcoach

You always have good posts and stories and you are truly unselfish. Thank you for sharing and for helping others.

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What he said

Thank you for the great report, you are obviously a better angler than I, both at angling, and sharing.

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

I really enjoy your teaching posts. My biggest struggle, and I have many, is interpreting what I see on my electronics. You are obviously quite adept at this interpretation, as you often speak of fishing offshore structures. I can find brushpiles, but I just can’t discern whether they have fish on them. Would you consider doing a post or two with some screenshots? It appears from your pictures that you have the same unit as me on your console.

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ET, if I can remember to take more screen shots, I will. Grin. But I have said and still believe that the biggest crappie run in smallest schools so when you see a brush pile with just a couple of fish on it, most people pass these piles up. But they can give you your biggest fish of the day. Example of the best day for big crappie that Cuonthelake and I had from about 3-4 years ago.

It was spring and pre spawn time. There is an underwater ridge that in the past we had caught big slabs on and we checked it out with the electronics. It was offshore, current was ripping and wind from the north almost 8-10 mph. Only one little dot showed up on the cover when we passed over it, but I said let’s fish it anyway. We made the run to check it out, might as well fish it.

I got the boat in position to make a natural presentation, set the spot lock on Ivan, and we began our casting. It took a couple of casts to see just how the jig was reacting and then, as Candi does to me so many times, caught the first fish of the day. A slab over 16” long and 3 lbs. Very next cast, another slab that was a couple of ounces over 3 lbs. Back to back 3 pounders and I have never caught a 3 on Chickamauga. Then she caught another 15” slab under 3 and I made her swap seats with me. Lolol. Then I caught back to back 14.5” slabs and gave her the seat back. That was 5 TARP sized crappie from that spot in about 10-15 minutes. She caught another 13.5“ and a 12.5” Crappie and then not another bite.

7 slabs in about 30 minutes. Too bad that we weren’t in a tournament. Now we don’t do this on every trip. All these fish came from a spot that most would pass up because they didn’t see a huge school of crappie. Those huge schools on Chickamauga are little fish and although fun to catch, will only produce one or two big crappie from time to time.

ET, thanks for asking the question, and DK for an eloquent answer. That is info that needs to be considered every time the DI lights up like a Christmas tree, maybe they're all small fish, and like you said, fun to catch, but not what we're after.

Thanks for sharing ! Well done!

I grew up fishing for bass and crappie back in the late 50’s and 60’s with my dad. Back then there were no electronics and top water in the spring and fall was it for bass and trolling in the spring for crappie was all we knew. I quit fishing as I got to high school and didn’t fish at all until about 10 years ago. I bought a boat and started fishing again. Crappie fishing is my favorite but I really struggled and rarely caught anything even with the electronics on my new boat, except in spring when I could troll and catch them. Chickamauga is a big lake and overwhelming to new guys like I was. Then I started reading forums and found DK one day. I never joined, but I will say, I would come here to check for a DK post and I’ll say my fishing is better now even though I still have more fish less days than I like. That is because reading the electronics and ID’ing fish is still my weak link. I never read one of his posts without learning something though and I do appreciate him and his generosity. I’ll be 68 in a couple of months and he has proven you can teach an old dog new tricks!!! I sure hope he keeps posting cause I’ll sure keep reading!! I’m new here as far as being a member of the forum, but I’ve been learning from DK for several years now and wanted to pitch in and say that.

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Originally Posted by Grumpygramps

I grew up fishing for bass and crappie back in the late 50’s and 60’s with my dad. Back then there were no electronics and top water in the spring and fall was it for bass and trolling in the spring for crappie was all we knew. I quit fishing as I got to high school and didn’t fish at all until about 10 years ago. I bought a boat and started fishing again. Crappie fishing is my favorite but I really struggled and rarely caught anything even with the electronics on my new boat, except in spring when I could troll and catch them. Chickamauga is a big lake and overwhelming to new guys like I was. Then I started reading forums and found DK one day. I never joined, but I will say, I would come here to check for a DK post and I’ll say my fishing is better now even though I still have more fish less days than I like. That is because reading the electronics and ID’ing fish is still my weak link. I never read one of his posts without learning something though and I do appreciate him and his generosity. I’ll be 68 in a couple of months and he has proven you can teach an old dog new tricks!!! I sure hope he keeps posting cause I’ll sure keep reading!! I’m new here as far as being a member of the forum, but I’ve been learning from DK for several years now and wanted to pitch in and say that.

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Hey, Grumpy, thank you for reading the posts that I make. I try to help people who struggle to find or catch fish. I can locate fish every time I go out, but don’t always get them to bite. Grin. The forum that you found me on several years ago, I quit posting there because they let ugly contentious comments go on and I don’t like that. I will post on Facebook sometimes, but don’t give out info. This is the only forum that I give detailed reports on and I want to thank Slab and all the moderators who keep this forum friendly and won’t allow any negative comments go on.

I keep no secrets, but it takes time on the water to find, present lures, and have confidence that you are doing the right thing to catch fish. The number one thing that any angler can do to catch crappie on a consistent basis is to learn to detect the crappie bite and I’m not talking about “feeling” the thump, using braided line or anything like that. Under most circumstances, 9 out of 10 crappie that I catch, I never “feel” the bite or fish until I set the hook. I watch my hi-vis line and see the bite long before the thump comes. I probably detail this in the sticky post at the top of the forum page. Long read, but worth the time to read. If there is a secret to my method of single pole crappie fishing, it is learning to master a jig. It took me a long time to get to where I am today.

DK said: "It took me a long time to get to where I am today".
But,
I don't have a long time left !!! ;-)

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Originally Posted by USMA65

DK said: "It took me a long time to get to where I am today".
But,
I don't have a long time left !!! ;-)

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Yep! I know that feeling. I love being out there though and will continue to try to get better. I’ve gotten some ideas even from this DK post that I think will help me and I will be out there as soon as this rain is gone!

DK, WE have a many memorable trips, however this trip you are referring to, “ TARPS” them all.
i get to personally always witness your unselfishness, teaching abilities, an learn first hand from one of the best!
Lolol...I have to get that first cast in, because it always sets the tone for the excitement I get to see in your face when I bring that first fish to the boat! Thanks again for sharing your knowledge, I’m just thankful always that our paths crossed!

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Originally Posted by drumking

ET, if I can remember to take more screen shots, I will. Grin. But I have said and still believe that

the biggest crappie run in smallest schools so when you see a brush pile with just a couple of fish on it, most people pass these piles up. But they can give you your biggest fish of the day. Example of the best day for big crappie that Cuonthelake and I had from about 3-4 years ago.

It was spring and pre spawn time. There is an underwater ridge that in the past we had caught big slabs on and we checked it out with the electronics. It was offshore, current was ripping and wind from the north almost 8-10 mph. Only one little dot showed up on the cover when we passed over it, but I said let’s fish it anyway. We made the run to check it out, might as well fish it.

I got the boat in position to make a natural presentation, set the spot lock on Ivan, and we began our casting. It took a couple of casts to see just how the jig was reacting and then, as Candi does to me so many times, caught the first fish of the day. A slab over 16” long and 3 lbs. Very next cast, another slab that was a couple of ounces over 3 lbs. Back to back 3 pounders and I have never caught a 3 on Chickamauga. Then she caught another 15” slab under 3 and I made her swap seats with me. Lolol. Then I caught back to back 14.5” slabs and gave her the seat back. That was 5 TARP sized crappie from that spot in about 10-15 minutes. She caught another 13.5“ and a 12.5” Crappie and then not another bite.

7 slabs in about 30 minutes. Too bad that we weren’t in a tournament. Now we don’t do this on every trip. All these fish came from a spot that most would pass up because they didn’t see a huge school of crappie. Those huge schools on Chickamauga are little fish and although fun to catch, will only produce one or two big crappie from time to time.

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Originally Posted by drumking

This is the only forum that I give detailed reports on and I want to thank Slab and all the moderators who keep this forum friendly and won’t allow any negative comments go on.

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Thank you DK. We love your posts here. And I want to thank our moderators, and those that report posts, for keeping the site clean. We've been this way since we started, and I want to blame "G" for that! lol. He talked me down a couple times when I was gonna let the site leave the tracks. We gonna stay between the lines now, as we always have, and will always be. Family friendly forever.

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Originally Posted by drumking

ET, if I can remember to take more screen shots, I will. Grin. But I have said and still believe that the biggest crappie run in smallest schools so when you see a brush pile with just a couple of fish on it, most people pass these piles up. But they can give you your biggest fish of the day. Example of the best day for big crappie that Cuonthelake and I had from about 3-4 years ago.

It was spring and pre spawn time. There is an underwater ridge that in the past we had caught big slabs on and we checked it out with the electronics. It was offshore, current was ripping and wind from the north almost 8-10 mph. Only one little dot showed up on the cover when we passed over it, but I said let’s fish it anyway. We made the run to check it out, might as well fish it.

I got the boat in position to make a natural presentation, set the spot lock on Ivan, and we began our casting. It took a couple of casts to see just how the jig was reacting and then, as Candi does to me so many times, caught the first fish of the day. A slab over 16” long and 3 lbs. Very next cast, another slab that was a couple of ounces over 3 lbs. Back to back 3 pounders and I have never caught a 3 on Chickamauga. Then she caught another 15” slab under 3 and I made her swap seats with me. Lolol. Then I caught back to back 14.5” slabs and gave her the seat back. That was 5 TARP sized crappie from that spot in about 10-15 minutes. She caught another 13.5“ and a 12.5” Crappie and then not another bite.

7 slabs in about 30 minutes. Too bad that we weren’t in a tournament. Now we don’t do this on every trip. All these fish came from a spot that most would pass up because they didn’t see a huge school of crappie. Those huge schools on Chickamauga are little fish and although fun to catch, will only produce one or two big crappie from time to time.

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Thanks for this awesome response! You are definitely very unselfish! That being said, I’d still like to see some screenshots!:popcorn

Are you talking about the bluff up
by the power plant


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Great thread.

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Originally Posted by roybuoy

Are you talking about the bluff up
by the power plant


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No, I fished that bluff but no takers on that particular bluff. I like it better in the winter time.

Haven't had any takers there or the sloughs coming out of Harrison Bay or Ware Branch or Wolftever. Marking lots of fish just no takers

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Originally Posted by roybuoy

Haven't had any takers there or the sloughs coming out of Harrison Bay or Ware Branch or Wolftever. Marking lots of fish just no takers

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The fish that we caught today were deep. Right on the bottom in 15-20 feet of water. Fish very slow with slight lift drop twitch subtle movement of the jig. When fish are in a more aggressive mood, it is easier to get them to bite. Some days you really need perch colored hand grenades. JK. Lol.

Nice trip glad you caught them especially on Crappie Magnets!! That's one of my favorite colors too!!