Thread: 1st long lining attempt

You can almost count the fish. Notice the shadow that they cast on the bottom.

Originally Posted by MidHillbilly

I think I really struggle with the trusting the electronics part. It is probably mostly because I am not sure what exactly I am looking for. If you or anyone else could give some more information on how to use the electronics more effectively it would really be appreciated. Maybe even some screenshots if that is not asking too much?

You could look thru this thread.

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/south...terpretations/

Alot of the beginning pictures is of graphs sitting still night fishing. Move more towards the end of the thread and you'll see much more daytime graph shots. Alot of them have explanations of what we believe the graph is telling you. Like Ink said...look for activity on your graph before dropping lines. If they aint there just putting out lines wont catch you any fish. If they are there and wont bite....MOVE. Dont spend all day fishing for fish that have lockjaw. They ARE biting somewhere...you just gotta find where they at.

Originally Posted by gabowman

You could look thru this thread.

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/south...terpretations/

Alot of the beginning pictures is of graphs sitting still night fishing. Move more towards the end of the thread and you'll see much more daytime graph shots. Alot of them have explanations of what we believe the graph is telling you. Like Ink said...look for activity on your graph before dropping lines. If they aint there just putting out lines wont catch you any fish. If they are there and wont bite....MOVE. Dont spend all day fishing for fish that have lockjaw. They ARE biting somewhere...you just gotta find where they at.

Thanks for the link. There are some great screen shots in that thread and it helps. If you were to fish a creek that you had not fished much, how would you go about looking for fish before you drop a line in the water? Just curious what your approach would be.

The first thing I look for is bait. No bait, no fish most of the time. Next thing is I use my side imaging and down imaging to search for structure and brushpiles near the channel and work my way shallower. I would start at the mouth of the creek and work my way back. Mark everything and anything you find. Then start to fish when I find them.

Originally Posted by MidHillbilly

I think I really struggle with the trusting the electronics part. It is probably mostly because I am not sure what exactly I am looking for. If you or anyone else could give some more information on how to use the electronics more effectively it would really be appreciated. Maybe even some screenshots if that is not asking too much?

What kind of electronics are you running? Does your units have down imaging or side imaging? Or just regular 2D sonar? There's plenty of pics to show you depending on your electronics. Here's one of a school of crappie on a brushpile. This is a down imaging pic.

Originally Posted by Gabepeeps

What kind of electronics are you running? Does your units have down imaging or side imaging? Or just regular 2D sonar? There's plenty of pics to show you depending on your electronics. Here's one of a school of crappie on a brushpile. This is a down imaging pic.

Thanks for the pic. I have a Humminbird Helix with 2D, DI, and SI. I can find the bait balls but I don't think I have ever seen a school of fish like that one. Maybe I am looking in all the wrong places as the old song says. From the picture, the speed said 0.1 MPH so I assume you were barely moving? Usually when I am looking for fish, bait, and structure I am moving about 2 to 3 MPH. Too fast to see those type of images?

Biggest thing for me while long lining is putting the line out the same distance every time. For instance- Outside rods=50', next inside rod 40' third rod 30'. That's how I start if I'm in 15feet or less of water. I can adjust my lengths to what the fish prefer that day. More line=deeper jig. Less line=shallower jig.

brett ,I think you were the one scooping up the fish. I caught 18 crappie and only kept 10. Got a mess of perch for catfish bait. You were doing well from what I could see. Practice and did I say practice. Then come teach me how. Good to see ya. Come on out Sat and show us how it is done.

Sounds like you both had a good day on the water plus it looked very calm and clear for a change. Thanks for the reports and pictures. Ya'll should be called dawggs for not saying anything. Left the dawgg at home again.

It will get better, for sure!!!!!!Not bad for the first time.