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Hi, new to the Crappie.com. Any crappie fisherman in Norcal with suggestions for lakes within 1.5 hours drive of the SF Bay Area? I've never caught crappie, but heard they're great for eating, so I'm dying to catch some to try. I don't have a boat, so I'm shore/dock/pier bound.
Clear Lake is a great fishery most years, water is still very cold and when it warms to 58* you will be able to get them from shore. Lots of small lakes closer to you, but fish are smaller and less plentiful.
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Thanks, Noodlerod! Yeah, I've heard that about Clear Lake. But I've also heard that the mercury levels are high there. Any other suggestions? I don't mind if the fish are smaller, as long as they are edible. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Noodle rod
Also, do you mean a water temperature of 58*? What's the place to find out about a lakes water temperature? And is it correct to assume that when it gets to that temperature, that's when the spawn starts?
The water temperature is most of what will bring them to shore even if they don't spawn for weeks. Lake Hennessey is super clean water, sometimes it will get crowded at the top end so I go back to the other end.
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Thanks so much for letting me know about Lake Hennessey! Is there anywhere online where I can check on its water temperature regularly?
Not that I know of, it is a drinking water supply reservoir so has a few restrictions and may have a website with information, Napa County.
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Ok, thanks.
Hi Noodle rod,Quote:
Originally Posted by Noodle rod
Just wanted to see if you happen to know if the spawn has started at Lake Hennessy.
I don't know, but I would say you have a good chance to find active crappie near shore, I would move around a lot and try all the different types of shoreline working slowly with no float.
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Thanks for the tip, Noodle rod! Any recommendations for weight and color of jig grub?
Natural, blue ice,on a 1/16oz head 4lb test, if you break it off in the brush, tie on another one and keep going.
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Ok, thanks so much! Have a great weekend!
Is natural like cream colored?
More transparent, Bobby Garland blue ice.
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Great, thanks!
Hey Noodle rod,
Do you have any videos of the jigging technique that you use? If not, is there someone online that you recommend I watch?
No, no video, it's not much of a technique really, but it does imitate a single minnow in the relative open and therefore easy prey. I most often don't try to impart any jigging motions, just let it rise and fall as it goes over rocks and sticks much like a spinnerbait for green carp, but much slower.
Watch Richard Gene the Fishing Machine.
Thanks again! I'll check out Richard Gene. Many hefty stringers to you!
beetle spins with curly tails in various colors are great ways to cover a lot of water and find them. smaller ones recommended and will ketch most anything in water. Good fishing!
Thanks for the tip, hdhntr!
Hey Noodle rod,
Just wanted to check before I head out to Hennessey, how far is the lake from the parking lot(s)? Is it a long hike?
The road wraps around the lake, and in one place across a levee, you will find pullouts all around. Brushy at the inlet end and pretty open and steep banks near the dam.
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Ok, thanks for the info!
Did you go, and did you catch?
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Hey Noodle rod,
I did go, but didn't catch. Don't know if it mattered, but I got there pretty late because I probably started out later than I should've and got caught in the traffic on 80. But the worst part was the GPS, which took me up the wrong side of Hennessey, leading me to a dead end after 40 minutes of really windy road. So I went the other way which took another 40, where I finally found the entrance with the boat launch dock.
After I finally got there, there were only people fishing--but they were going for bass. (They only caught a couple really small ones.) Since I was late, I just started fishing about 1/4 mile in from the road gate on the left. Didn't get a bite, but seeing that no one else was going for crappie, I had the impression I either missed the spawn or it hadn't happened yet.
I tried to check out the shore at a few pullouts like you said, but they were kinda far from the lake to me and over rocky or steep ground to reach. Having a bum knee, I wasn't going to risk hiking out to the lake from those pullouts.
The lake was beautiful, though, and the water so clear. Even though I didn't catch any, I appreciate your recommendation!