A couple questions- (long read)

Well I’m new to crappie fishing at 70 yrs old. I have many questions but these are a few for now.


1- I see most suggest 6 lb line. I’m using 20 lb braid to keep it from digging in the spool under tension and absorb any line twist with a 20-30 ft 8 lb leader. It’s working fine for me functionally. The lake I’m fishing is always stained to some degree, never clear and I occasionally hook a large bass. Last one was 6 3/4. Is lighter line necessary for lure action or is 8 ok with the muddy to stained water?


2- in late September thru October I was finding schools in and over brush in 12-18 ft of water and catching fish. I went yesterday after the rain quit at about daylight. I caught 3 from 13-15” right away and then nothing the rest of the day. It was cloudy when I caught them early then blue sky. I searched many piles and could find no schools. And I spent a few hrs graphing. Bait balls were still 8-15 ft. I fished some brush piles anyway but no fish other than a few 6” bass. I say brush piles but actually logs and limbs on the bottom from before the lake was flooded. It was pretty windy and hard to anchor even with 2 anchors but I managed to stay on spots. Do I need to look at other water or did the post front just get me? No floating docks and the wood post docks aren’t much over 4-5 ft at deepest with the lake down 2 ft. No bridges but there is a power line across it with concrete pillars. I graphed them but saw no fish there. They’re 20-25’ deep. They’ve sprayed and killed most of the pads and hydrilla but the hydrilla is starting to come back. I don’t know much about crappie habits other than what I’ve recently read on here. Oh and I was using minnows and a double jig rig under slip corks from the bottom up to about 6 ft.


Guess that’s enough for now. If anyone has had the patience to read all this I’d appreciate any advice you care to give. Thanks in advance!

As for the braid I use 8lb that is 1lb diameter or 10lb that is 2lb diameter. I attached straight to the jig. The fish don't seem to mind at all. Water here is stained with visibility to about 3 feet. So your mileage may vary if you are on really clear water.

I shoot docks a lot. They will at some point start utilizing those docks in 4 to 5 feet of water. Pier built docks to me are better than floating docks. Consider them man made flooded timber. If water temps are favorable they will hide in the deep shadows of those docks when it is sunny outside. Sounds like you caught some nice fish

I’d forgotten to mention I’d scanned the about 20 docks on about 1/2 mile of shoreline and saw only what looked like small bream or maybe juvenile bass. Water temp was 64 and warmed to 66 (surface) late in the day. I do know you don’t always see fish if they’re in the shadow of objects in the sonar beam. That’s why I fished the bottom wood even though I didn’t see any yesterday. I just remembered I saw what might have been a small loose school on sidescan with what looked like a large bass it it. I went back and they were gone. I figured it was feeding on them and ran them off. But that was early before I caught the 3. That lake has a lot of big bass in it. It has a special reg. All bass over 16” have to be released.

Oh, and thanks for the help!

I’ll have to try the smaller braid. Maybe crappie don’t pull hard enough to pull it down into the line on the spool like larger bass do. It would be nice to do away with the leader and knot.

The only time I have trouble with it underwrapping is when I have to break it off or pull the hook free. I then drop the jig at the side of the boat, or cast out then pull it out until it spools off freely. I have some braid that is probably 7 or 8 years old. If it acts like it is twisted I stretch it across the field and then reel it back up under tension with the end free to untwist.

I’ve used the 20lb on bass spinning reels for yrs and love it over mono or flouro for them. It’s what I had. I put 8 lb on my list for my next trip to academy along with small bobber stops. Mine are for larger line and don’t stay too well. So far I’ve gotten slab sauce, b&m Russ Bailey rods in 8 and 10.5 ft, jigs and plastics from crappie cove and slabinator, crappie magnet nibbles, 2 20 president reels. I also stole a dobyns 702sf and 30 lews reel from my bass stuff so I guess I’m good for now till I learn more and want something more specialized. Anything else you can think of for learning?

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I haven’t tried the slab sauce yet as we haven’t cooked any since I got it. It must be good as I’ve seen it mentioned here a lot! :biggrin

Sounds like you are pretty well equipped. I like those President reels. They are pretty smooth. That Slabsauce should make those fillets extra fishy. The crappie certainly like it. G sauce has the added garlic:biggrin

Oh good! I likes garlic! Guess I’ll try that next time I order some. Do the fish prefer one over the other on a given day? Like one color jig is hot one day and another the next?

Don't forget to enter the contests for a chance at winning Sponsor products.

Attend any Crappie Camps in your area for a chance to win stuff.

Lighter line can affect lure action, as well as how fast it sinks.

My casting line is 6# test mono ... but, prior to that I used 4# test for decades. I do use PowerPro 10/2 hi-vis for casting Road Runners, and I tie directly to the lure.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Don't forget to enter the contests for a chance at winning Sponsor products.

Attend any Crappie Camps in your area for a chance to win stuff.

Lighter line can affect lure action, as well as how fast it sinks.

My casting line is 6# test mono ... but, prior to that I used 4# test for decades. I do use PowerPro 10/2 hi-vis for casting Road Runners, and I tie directly to the lure.

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I accidentally ended up with some PowerPro in 8/1. I like it a whole lot. As I replace line I will change over from the 10/2.

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Originally Posted by ChoogieChunker

Oh good! I likes garlic! Guess I’ll try that next time I order some. Do the fish prefer one over the other on a given day? Like one color jig is hot one day and another the next?

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I usually use whichever one I grab out of the storage compartment first

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Don't forget to enter the contests for a chance at winning Sponsor products.

Attend any Crappie Camps in your area for a chance to win stuff.

Lighter line can affect lure action, as well as how fast it sinks.

My casting line is 6# test mono ... but, prior to that I used 4# test for decades. I do use PowerPro 10/2 hi-vis for casting Road Runners, and I tie directly to the lure.

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Thanks. I’ll have check on the crappie camps. First I’ve heard of that. I’m guessing a seminar or similar.

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

I usually use whichever one I grab out of the storage compartment first

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Ok I’ll wait till I order again, long as it won’t make the difference in a limit or gettin skunked not having both.

Hey CrappiePappy
i didn’t find any crappie camps close on here. Mostly old posts states away. Looks like I missed the expo last month in la. There is a tournament on Fork next week. Do vendors have booths and drawings, samples, etc at crappie tournaments like at bass tournaments? It’s 3 hrs away but I’d drive if I’d profit from goods or seminars.

Duplicate

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Originally Posted by ChoogieChunker

Thanks. I’ll have check on the crappie camps. First I’ve heard of that. I’m guessing a seminar or similar.

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Not sure how other states do them, but we have people fish and bring them in to the cleaning station where a group of volunteers clean them .... then they're cooked, and along with the other food items brought by attendees we have a big meal .... then the prize packs (bags of various baits & stuff) are handed out to all attending members, followed by the ticket draw for the bigger items (rods, clothing, nets, minnow buckets, etc). Ours is a one day event, but there are other events that are longer. And yes, some do have seminars going on during the event.

Look up terms like : Slabfest ... Spring Fling ... Crappie Camp ... Shindig ---- and you'll see reports/pics of the various goings on at these events.

Ok I just did crappie camp. I’ll try those terms. Thanks for the info!

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Originally Posted by ChoogieChunker

Ok I just did crappie camp. I’ll try those terms. Thanks for the info!

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Back in 2000 I started running Spring Fling & Fall Brawl events down on Watts Bar Reservoir in East Tenn. as that was where we'd normally go for our Spring & Fall road trips to fish. They ran until 2005. I started the Spring Fling event here in KY several years later, but dropped the Fall Brawl event. In recent years, some of the West KY guys have taken to running their own "Shindig" event. Other members in other states took up the practice of having these kinds of events & Crappie Camps & Slabfests were their choice of names for their events. Some have tournaments, while others are more about the food & fellowship, but most all of them do have some amount of prize giveaways to the attendees.

In the original Spring Fling/Fall Brawl events, there was a "tournament" of sorts, but no money involved (no admission fee or payout). What we did do was give the higher end ($$) prizes to the top weights on down the list until we ran out. We still did the goodie bag giveaway to all those that fished in the tourney. When I started doing the Fling here in KY, I dropped the "tournament" aspect and instituted the ticket drawing in its place.

Here's a link to some pics of our 2018 Spring Fling : https://www.crappie.com/crappie/test...ng-fling-pics/

And one from the 2017 Spring Fling, where we did have a couple of seminars : https://www.crappie.com/crappie/cont...7-Pappy-s-pics

Looks like a real good time! I haven’t seen anything like that for Texas. You’re a winner for putting in the time to put even one on!

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Back in 2000 I started running Spring Fling & Fall Brawl events down on Watts Bar Reservoir in East Tenn. as that was where we'd normally go for our Spring & Fall road trips to fish. They ran until 2005. I started the Spring Fling event here in KY several years later, but dropped the Fall Brawl event. In recent years, some of the West KY guys have taken to running their own "Shindig" event. Other members in other states took up the practice of having these kinds of events & Crappie Camps & Slabfests were their choice of names for their events. Some have tournaments, while others are more about the food & fellowship, but most all of them do have some amount of prize giveaways to the attendees.

In the original Spring Fling/Fall Brawl events, there was a "tournament" of sorts, but no money involved (no admission fee or payout). What we did do was give the higher end ($$) prizes to the top weights on down the list until we ran out. We still did the goodie bag giveaway to all those that fished in the tourney. When I started doing the Fling here in KY, I dropped the "tournament" aspect and instituted the ticket drawing in its place.

Here's a link to some pics of our 2018 Spring Fling : https://www.crappie.com/crappie/test...ng-fling-pics/

And one from the 2017 Spring Fling, where we did have a couple of seminars : https://www.crappie.com/crappie/cont...7-Pappy-s-pics

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Watts Bar is just up the road from me

Use the lightest jighead you can get away with and hold a good angle based upon the current.

I Use 1/32oz-1/64oz

Use the lightest lb test you are comfortable with.

I Use 2lb-6lb mono in hi-vis

Loosen the drag to stop the line from burying up.

Move fast from spot to spot....but fish each spot slowly.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Like you I am new to this but not to fishing.

Everyone swears flouro catches more fish than mono because it is invisible underwater. They say it’s molecular structure matches water. Well I know better. If that were true then their 400 lb flouro would also be invisible and it is not. The way to get some invisibility is to go thin. A 2lb mono leader will be more invisible than a 8 lb flouro.

The issue becomes how thin can I get away with. What is my comfort level with losing a few nice fish ?

Crappie do still bite when using braid line, which makes no claims to be invisible. Many fish in fact do NOT seem to be put off by line. Many claim it has no affect at all, but how does one know that ? How could one know that ? Well they would have to fish each at the same time in the same manner and then they could guess at it. LOL. Maybe ask the fish.

There can be all sorts of reasons why one line will outperform another though. Depth, visibility, floatation, flash, color, etc. Advice on this usually points those who ask silly questions towards thinner lines for some reason. Keeping in mind some say it doesn’t matter, but thinner is usually recommended. So why is that and what does that mean ?

Well I have concluded that it is based on the action of the jig. Forgetting visibility, 50lb flouro would limit the action of my very light weight jigs much more so than say 6 lb flouro. Could that be the key ? I tried a heavier leader and it did not perform anywhere near as well as the thinner stuff. Lesson learned.

I now use an 8lb flouro leader attached to my 30lb braid. The lighter braids wrap whimsically around the rod tips and form beautiful macrame knottings and such. So I use heavier braid for sanity retention, but then lighter leaders to impart action.

I troll long line fashion and that should be a basic steady straight forward pull, but it is not. There are wobbles and waggles and all sorts of small activities occurring back there. I discovered jigs swim differently as more line is given. Duh !!!! When I am using two exact same jigs and one seems to be more popular than the other, by a bunch, I start to look closely at the details. Maybe the plastic bait is impaled differently. Could be dumb luck, but usually there is something to be noticed.

So my advice is to stick with your heavy braid because you can manage well with it, but consider sizing downward on your leaders. There are many options in this regard, and 8 lb might be thin enough to work with your style. Maybe dropping down in size again to 6 lb would do something for you, maybe increasing the action will cost you some fish. Maybe not.

Some here use 2 pound line because it allows them to cast super light weight lures. Not because it catches fish better. Easy to miss some of these nuances.

I discovered that no matter what, all the advice in the world will not be of much use until you make a big decision. You MUST select a style. Once you have chosen that style then and only then can you begin to dial in your gear. What works really well for vertical jigging while staring at a Death Scope machine ain’t worth spit for long lining. So I recommend playing around some with the different styles and see what pleases you best. What works for you. Then line selection will become a breeze and you will have it right. No one can help you with this. It must be what you will be doing out there when no one is watching.

I like to add my leaders by forming King Sling loop knots in both the leader and the braid. Then slip the braid loop through the leader loop, pass jig through the braid, and draw down. This will leave the braid to form a Catspaw, with the leader material not forming anything at all, completely uninvolved, just captured. It can slide about within the sleeve of the Catspaw, with no kinks, creases or other damage at all. Pristine. The Catspaw prevents the braid from over tightening because the leader material is inserted and has a diameter to it. It can accept the folds very easily and without any damage. Forming the sleeve keeps the pull spread out along the leader material and not at a small point. The entire mess is streamlined and durable. Simple, quick and works with no need for a swivel, which is also a matter of debate.

Find yourself……then start figuring. I like the posts you have been generating and you will be a quick learner with this. While learning and finding your way try to experiment as much as possible. There are still plenty of things to be invented, discovered and imagined. You seem to be an idea man and I wish to encourage that in you. I suspect you will like crappie fishing a little more than being a BassMaster. Just find a style that you can enjoy as you enter your golden years. Something you can do whilst also being old. I left surf fishing for that exact reason, and I think I chose well. Too hard dragging my junk down the hot sand in what can only be viewed as a death march because all the stupid fish are all two miles down the beach. HAH !!!

Thank you for the long answer and the others who’ve also given advice! Luckily I’ve guessed right on jig sizes as the ones I’ve bought have been 1/32 and 1/64. I have some up to 1/8 also from the past, mostly maribou. Those might be useful occasionally, possibly. I know line size affects action and depth as well as line type,(mono floats and flouro and braid sinks). Just gives more variables to consider! Ive found unless water is gin clear line size affects action and presentation more than fish seeing it, or at least seems so to me. I’ve already had another idea to consider. This time of year an A-rig can be great, even multiple fish on one cast. They don’t mind the heavy stainless wires at all. I’ve not seen a smaller version mentioned by anyone yet. I guess spider rigging allows different jigs at different depths to do something similar but wondering if a smaller lighter A-rig would work. So my mind is already thinking outside the box. Of course it may have already been tried and discarded as useless or someone may be making them already. Just something I may play around with in the future. So many techniques to try and things to learn just like bass fishing. I imagine just TOW is the best way to find what a person likes and what works for them. All yall’s help will shorten my learning curve for sure so thanks again for all the advice!

I have wondered before why there wasn't an A rig geared towards crappie

Actually Rickie sells one. (rnvinc here on cdc)

da bama rig - Podunk (po dungk) A small isolated town, region, or place that is regarded as unimportant. . . .

I knew it had to be out there

Road Runner has a double rig called the "Buffet Rig".

Mr Crappie has a double rig called the "Troll-Tech"

And there are several others that make multi-arm rigs, some called "A-rigs" & others are known as "Umbrella Rigs". Some are called Ultra-lite and others are designated as "Crappie" specific. Whether or not they're available still .... :dono

I'm thinking that IF they had proved themselves ..... there'd be more chatter about them. Maybe there is and I just haven't kept up with the concept.

The only one I've actually tried is the Road Runner Buffet Rig .... and its jigs tended to run side by side, rather than one over top of the other, at any rate of speed over a very slow retrieve. :Doh: They're made with a 1/8oz & 1/16oz head, with the idea that the 1/8oz head will stay under the 1/16oz head. The rig "could be" made to work that way by replacing the 1/8oz head with a 1/4oz head (I think). I haven't tried that, so I'm not sure, but it would seem a viable tweak. I just removed both heads and use them as single RR's. :biggrin

Yes I thought I’d seen a smaller version called a finesse a-rig but couldn’t remember where or who made it. I don’t think it was designed for crappie though. Figured it’d been at least tried before, and it may work but not as well as more traditional means????

Here's a show from several years back...
Show 614 Crappie Fishing with "The Crappie Umbrella Rig" - YouTube

SlowHand- I watched your video. Then I went and ordered the stupid thing. I just HAVE to try this. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Road Runner has a double rig called the "Buffet Rig".

Mr Crappie has a double rig called the "Troll-Tech"

And there are several others that make multi-arm rigs, some called "A-rigs" & others are known as "Umbrella Rigs". Some are called Ultra-lite and others are designated as "Crappie" specific. Whether or not they're available still .... :dono

I'm thinking that IF they had proved themselves ..... there'd be more chatter about them. Maybe there is and I just haven't kept up with the concept.

The only one I've actually tried is the Road Runner Buffet Rig .... and its jigs tended to run side by side, rather than one over top of the other, at any rate of speed over a very slow retrieve. :Doh: They're made with a 1/8oz & 1/16oz head, with the idea that the 1/8oz head will stay under the 1/16oz head. The rig "could be" made to work that way by replacing the 1/8oz head with a 1/4oz head (I think). I haven't tried that, so I'm not sure, but it would seem a viable tweak. I just removed both heads and use them as single RR's. :biggrin

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In Tennessee you are allowed to run 3 hooks on an A -rig. You can have more baits but that can not have hooks

I’ve seen spinner blades also used on the other wires in states that limit numbers of hooks.

I have seen plastics used as a place holder without hooks