River Woe’s

It is the time of year that becomes very hit or miss for me on the river. Yet others seem to have things figured out.Attachment 514069
I’ve only been fishing for sixty five years. And been a dedicated crappie fisherman since year two thousand.
These fish seem to vanish in the river. Back in January the river was fifty-one degrees. Now it’s almost ten degrees cooler. But while February is some crappie fisherman’s favorite month, now till May is the most hit and miss for me. Yet guides catch them with their clients year round. Most guides aren’t on rivers but lakes or in lock and dam systems.
Those that fish rivers do you find the same thing? If not where do you begin to look? Understand most of the river systems I fish in has a lot of current, very little slack water or creek entryways. What’s your thoughts? As I am always looking for advice and on this site so others can learn as well.


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All fish go deep to survive when water temps drop. The deeper water is warmer than the shallow water. They still need to eat so they prefer drop offs with near by flats. When the sun warms up they move to the warmer flats with the bait. When it’s cold Sacalait will sit on the very bottom in the bayous. This is proven by Sacalait caught with muddy bellies. Smaller baits, even itty bitties, with 1/64 oz jigs have helped me some days. Remember slow down your presentation dramatically as the fish are lethargic and move in slow motion too. They are not going to waste energy chasing a fast moving target.
I caught these this past Friday in 45 F water on a small tidal bayou with the water levels fell so low most structures I normally fish were out the water.

Bon Temps!!

Don’t know much about your river , but the crappie might be as stated hugging the bottom or have followed the bait up a tributary or something along those lines

I posted a Big Ole' Hint the other day, find a different way to fish. Now you know why I'm working on cars.

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Originally Posted by Rojo

I posted a Big Ole' Hint the other day, find a different way to fish. Now you know why I'm working on cars.

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Well, you and I have had multiple discussions over the last few years. And yes I am in agreements with you on staying around home mid February till after April fools.

But I guess what gets me, is those who have mastered this time of year through April fools.

Again, I struggle to let things go as that’s just the way it is. I always figure there’s something to learn. Something that can make me a better fisherman. But I also struggle with wasting time and money. Most of the areas I fish are from one to three hours away. So you can see where it could get costly. The older I get, that’s why I need to fish smarter not harder.


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Originally Posted by silverroach

Well, you and I have had multiple discussions over the last few years. And yes I am in agreements with you on staying around home mid February till after April fools.

But I guess what gets me, is those who have mastered this time of year through April fools.

Again, I struggle to let things go as that’s just the way it is. I always figure there’s something to learn. Something that can make me a better fisherman. But I also struggle with wasting time and money. Most of the areas I fish are from one to three hours away. So you can see where it could get costly. The older I get, that’s why I need to fish smarter not harder.

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Ok, you see Bon Temps' is fishing waters that have fish to start with but more importantly the T-Funky has spots for them to go. Jourdan & Biloxi have too much Saltwater influence and shallow water this time of year. Well the Jourdan is filled in from the Campground up. Sad. Pascagoula River is where I would be fishing if I was closer. That river has'em the issue is patterning. I would have a novel written here trying to explain how to pattern them but the path to the top of the mountain is this, look for deep water out of the tide water with the sun on it if possible. Deep flats in a old oxbow even devoid of structure will hold Crappie large enough to be off the food chain. Structure, lone stuff out on that flat is a blessing. I use Micros with 1/32 jighead fishing 16-20ft of water so you need a weight just to get the jig down with braid. Second is getting a Stud off said bottom with the tiny jig so I only use BGJP's in 14ft long. They are limber enough to prevent hook rip with the fish turned sideways pumping and the occasional run but be prepared to point the pole at a Hammer if it makes a run. Lift with a load but not speed till you get your prize on the surface. You will strike out till you don't and when you don't put a X on the spot because it will recruit fish again next February. I hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by Rojo

Ok, you see Bon Temps' is fishing waters that have fish to start with but more importantly the T-Funky has spots for them to go. Jourdan & Biloxi have too much Saltwater influence and shallow water this time of year. Well the Jourdan is filled in from the Campground up. Sad. Pascagoula River is where I would be fishing if I was closer. That river has'em the issue is patterning. I would have a novel written here trying to explain how to pattern them but the path to the top of the mountain is this, look for deep water out of the tide water with the sun on it if possible. Deep flats in a old oxbow even devoid of structure will hold Crappie large enough to be off the food chain. Structure, lone stuff out on that flat is a blessing. I use Micros with 1/32 jighead fishing 16-20ft of water so you need a weight just to get the jig down with braid. Second is getting a Stud off said bottom with the tiny jig so I only use BGJP's in 14ft long. They are limber enough to prevent hook rip with the fish turned sideways pumping and the occasional run but be prepared to point the pole at a Hammer if it makes a run. Lift with a load but not speed till you get your prize on the surface. You will strike out till you don't and when you don't put a X on the spot because it will recruit fish again next February. I hope this helps.

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Helps a ton as always. You, Bon Temp, Katchen has probably helped me more than anyone on this site. Just reading your post and between the lines.
And it’s great continuing to learn from some of the best. Most of the time it’s things I already know, just have simply forgotten them.
As for the Pascagoula, as you know I fish the more northern portions just below where the Leaf and Chickasawhay River comes together. Then I will venture as far south as Wade. As you also know, it’s hard to find areas without strong flow that far up. As for the oxbows, the lack of higher water over the last two years has caused the oxbows to be a bit fished out. Lots of shorts!
I have not fished below the Wade area yet.
In July we finally got to move out of the camper and back home to Baldwin County Alabama. But the Pascagoula River is only about one hour and fifteen minutes from the house and it’s an easy drive. So I have only ventured to Jourdan a couple of times as it’s getting close to two hours away. My thoughts are if I’m going to drive two hours away why not one more hour and go to some of the best crappie river fishing around and go to Demopolis Alabama. But again the Demopolis area those rivers are controlled. The Pascagoula is not. Thanks for the tips, sure gives me something to think about and try.


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If it makes you guy's feel any better at least your fishing! It was -7 degrees this morning wind blowing 20-30 mph. The feels like temperature was -29, to cold and windy even for us to go ice fishing! Lol.


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Originally Posted by wc870

If it makes you guy's feel any better at least your fishing! It was -7 degrees this morning wind blowing 20-30 mph. The feels like temperature was -29, to cold and windy even for us to go ice fishing! Lol.


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Yeah, and even a bit further South, like here in Ky, the rivers and creeks and most of the lakes are iced in ... and even where the lakes aren't totally or mostly covered in ice, most of the ramps are. Heck, my boat cover is still covered in ice/snow. :bash
Just freed my truck from 2" of ice/snow several days ago, which took me about an hour with the heat on full blast, a couple of scrapers (broke one), and a hammer to get the ice off. And then 4wd to get the truck out and over the ice "bump" created by the maintenance crew's snow plow. :Doh:

I feel like I live too far north being 14 miles from the Gulf. I grew up South of New Orleans where we rarely even got a freeze. I don't know how y'all deal with all that snow & ice.

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Originally Posted by Rojo

I feel like I live too far north being 14 miles from the Gulf. I grew up South of New Orleans where we rarely even got a freeze. I don't know how y'all deal with all that snow & ice.

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I agree with Rojo! As my father in law used to say before going to where everything is perfect, that is Heaven.

His famous saying was if he lived where the wind blowed all the time or everything froze over, he would commit suicide.
Of course he was a big shell cracker fisherman and introduced me to the Jordan River. And they bedded best during March. Rojo knows what March is like down in those grassy bayous in South Mississippi. Windy!!!!


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Originally Posted by Rojo

I feel like I live too far north being 14 miles from the Gulf. I grew up South of New Orleans where we rarely even got a freeze. I don't know how y'all deal with all that snow & ice.

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Well, all I can say is being born and raised here we're just used to it. It's not really that bad because the seasons change soon enough. Speaking for myself and not the rest of the New Englanders, I can't stand hot weather, anything below 70 is ok, 80+ and Im hiding somewhere in AC.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Yeah, and even a bit further South, like here in Ky, the rivers and creeks and most of the lakes are iced in ... and even where the lakes aren't totally or mostly covered in ice, most of the ramps are. Heck, my boat cover is still covered in ice/snow. :bash
Just freed my truck from 2" of ice/snow several days ago, which took me about an hour with the heat on full blast, a couple of scrapers (broke one), and a hammer to get the ice off. And then 4wd to get the truck out and over the ice "bump" created by the maintenance crew's snow plow. :Doh:

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AND if the cold doesn't break SOON the Mighty Ohio will be froze over. It's pretty close to that now and would be if there wasn't any barge traffic.