New boat owner need advice

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10-04-2022, 11:44 AM
GA ANGLER

New boat owner need advice

I bought a new 14' jon boat for fishing in Chattahoochee river. We went fishing 2weekend ago at night under bridge, water was 30 feet deep under the bridge. We used green light and attracted plenty of bait fish all night long. We did not see any big fish in the fish finder and did catch any fish.
My question, at what location do I need to fish at night for crappie?

This river has plenty of boat docks. Will dock shooting get me some fish in spring, summer, fall and winter?

Thanks in advance.
10-04-2022, 12:20 PM
DockShootinJack

Shooting docks can be productive year round. Spring, fall and winter prove to be the better months on the water I fish. Marinas are a great place to find crappie as well. As far as docks, look for ones that have lights shining onto the water, those are docks people fish from and have done things to make the fish want to be there. Docks close to deeper water are also a good draw. The fish don't care what a dock looks like. I used to shoot one that other's would avoid. It was pretty ramshackled and falling apart in places. Spider webs so thick your jig would get stuck and dangle above the water. Once I got the webs shot out it was loaded with post spawn fish. Nice, shady, and quiet. Best of luck to you.
10-04-2022, 12:49 PM
CrappiePappy

When fishing in a river ... if it has much in the way of flow ... you always want to fish downstream of any obstruction, or any eddy water areas. Downed trees, exposed root wads on the bottom, bridge pillars (obstructions) ... inside curve of a bend (eddy water) all deserve checking out. Around anything that slows down or diverts current is a likely place to find fish.
10-04-2022, 01:56 PM
GA ANGLER

Thanks a lot guys for your advice.
I am planning to go for dock shooting in day time in few weeks, nights are getting cold in as fall approaching. There's are lots of downed trees over here and deep water close to the docks.
10-04-2022, 02:17 PM
DockShootinJack

Dock shooting can be very addictive
10-04-2022, 05:06 PM
GA ANGLER

Quote:

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Shooting docks can be productive year round. Spring, fall and winter prove to be the better months on the water I fish. Marinas are a great place to find crappie as well. As far as docks, look for ones that have lights shining onto the water, those are docks people fish from and have done things to make the fish want to be there. Docks close to deeper water are also a good draw. The fish don't care what a dock looks like. I used to shoot one that other's would avoid. It was pretty ramshackled and falling apart in places. Spider webs so thick your jig would get stuck and dangle above the water. Once I got the webs shot out it was loaded with post spawn fish. Nice, shady, and quiet. Best of luck to you.

Do crappies stay under dock during spawning and pre spawn time?
10-04-2022, 05:12 PM
DockShootinJack

They will spawn under docks if they are the depth they want to spawn at. A pier built dock in my mind is flooded timber with shade over top. One big giant stake bed. Lot of dock owners sink brush at there docks so look for that.
10-04-2022, 05:48 PM
GA ANGLER

Quote:

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

They will spawn under docks if they are the depth they want to spawn at. A pier built dock in my mind is flooded timber with shade over top. One big giant stake bed. Lot of dock owners sink brush at there docks so look for that.

Thanks for the great tips.
10-04-2022, 06:16 PM
DockShootinJack

Most welcome
10-05-2022, 05:59 AM
GA ANGLER

Another quick question, where are the bait fishes in winter?

Thanks.
10-05-2022, 06:01 AM
DockShootinJack

They move into the creeks in most places.
10-13-2022, 04:05 AM
GA ANGLER

Will a side scan sonar help to locate fish under dock? I have a Garmin Striker 4, it's cheap and small but works very good for my 14 feet Jon boat.

Thanks.
10-13-2022, 04:20 AM
DockShootinJack

I use side scan to see what is under the docks. I mainly look for structure/ brush under the docks. You can see fish as well. It will pick up all the nuts, bolts, washers, and other fasteners used to put a dock together.
10-13-2022, 04:34 AM
GA ANGLER

Quote:

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

I use side scan to see what is under the docks. I mainly look for structure/ brush under the docks. You can see fish as well. It will pick up all the nuts, bolts, washers, and other fasteners used to put a dock together.

Thanks for your advice. I will look for a small one since my boat is small.
10-13-2022, 05:12 AM
DockShootinJack

I would get the largest one that I felt comfortable about spending the money on. The bigger the screen the easier it is to see the fish and structure. I went from a 5 inch screen to a 9 in Hummingbird Helix. So much easier to read the larger screen. Eventually I will put get Mega 360 for the bow. One note about side scan it only works while you are moving
10-13-2022, 06:23 AM
GA ANGLER

Quote:

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

I would get the largest one that I felt comfortable about spending the money on. The bigger the screen the easier it is to see the fish and structure. I went from a 5 inch screen to a 9 in Hummingbird Helix. So much easier to read the larger screen. Eventually I will put get Mega 360 for the bow. One note about side scan it only works while you are moving

Thanks for letting me know that side scan sonar only works while moving. I am going to look for the biggest screen I can afford as you adviced.
10-13-2022, 09:03 AM
Lund

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA ANGLER

Thanks for letting me know that side scan sonar only works while moving. I am going to look for the biggest screen I can afford as you adviced.

Hey, I just wanted to second DockShootinJack's comment about biggest screen you can afford. I when from a like '02 Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro to a Garmin Echomap UHD 93sv and man thats a game changer. I waited till it went on sale for like $300 off (I think a Father's Day sale) and it was well worth it. 7" screen to a 9" and in UHD. Getting close to black friday could also just watch to see if any you like go on sale to help out getting more bang for buck.
10-13-2022, 09:51 AM
GA ANGLER

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lund

Hey, I just wanted to second DockShootinJack's comment about biggest screen you can afford. I when from a like '02 Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro to a Garmin Echomap UHD 93sv and man thats a game changer. I waited till it went on sale for like $300 off (I think a Father's Day sale) and it was well worth it. 7" screen to a 9" and in UHD. Getting close to black friday could also just watch to see if any you like go on sale to help out getting more bang for buck.

You are absolutely right. I rather wait and get bigger screen than smaller one, holidays are coming so I am sure I will get something on sale.
10-13-2022, 01:04 PM
CrappiePappy

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA ANGLER

You are absolutely right. I rather wait and get bigger screen than smaller one, holidays are coming so I am sure I will get something on sale.

I went from a 5" Down Image unit to a 7" Down Image unit ... then added the Garmin 93sv (w/o tdx) & Livescope. Yep, bypassed the Side View technology completely, and don't feel a bit of remorse for doing so. IMHO ... SV isn't for me & my way of fishing, so when I had Brian @BBGmarine put a combo together for me I had him leave out the transducer for the Garmin 93sv unit in the deal.
I already had my 7" DI unit tdx on the bottom of the TM, so adding the LS tdx to the shaft posed no problems. The Garmin unit is for LS only, and I use the DI unit for maps/waypoints.
Total output for the Garmin, Livescope, mount for Garmin unit, & a dedicated battery for the Livescope/Garmin setup ... $2500 (as of a couple of years ago) -- Garmin unit/LS - $2200 + mount $100 + battery 68ah AGM $200

You might even get a better deal nowadays, so if I were looking for new electronics today ... I'd check sale prices & compare them against what price Brian@BBGmarine (member sponsor classifieds) offers and see which deal is best. :twocents

(Brian offers discounts to members, so PM him when you inquire so he knows you're a Crappie.com member)
10-13-2022, 01:13 PM
Lund

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

I went from a 5" Down Image unit to a 7" Down Image unit ... then added the Garmin 93sv (w/o tdx) & Livescope. Yep, bypassed the Side View technology completely, and don't feel a bit of remorse for doing so. IMHO ... SV isn't for me & my way of fishing, so when I had Brian @BBGmarine put a combo together for me I had him leave out the transducer for the Garmin 93sv unit in the deal.
I already had my 7" DI unit tdx on the bottom of the TM, so adding the LS tdx to the shaft posed no problems. The Garmin unit is for LS only, and I use the DI unit for maps/waypoints.
Total output for the Garmin, Livescope, mount for Garmin unit, & a dedicated battery for the Livescope/Garmin setup ... $2500 (as of a couple of years ago) -- Garmin unit/LS - $2200 + mount $100 + battery 68ah AGM $200

You might even get a better deal nowadays, so if I were looking for new electronics today ... I'd check sale prices & compare them against what price Brian@BBGmarine (member sponsor classifieds) offers and see which deal is best. :twocents

(Brian offers discounts to members, so PM him when you inquire so he knows you're a Crappie.com member)

Who is Brian?
10-13-2022, 01:33 PM
CrappiePappy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lund

Who is Brian?

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/member.php?u=31944
10-16-2022, 07:02 AM
catchNgrease

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lund

Who is Brian?

BBG Marine Electronics

Sent from my SM-G975U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
10-31-2022, 07:42 AM
GA ANGLER

Just ordered garmin striker vivid 7sv, getting ready for winter crappie fishing under dock and bridge. I hope there will be fish under the bridge and dock winter time.