crappie fishing advice (needed)

[Javelin JD]

I live in central KY, the water temp is around 63-65 degrees, the outside temp is around 80, but will drop to high 60's. Don't know if any of that is important, what is important is that I want to take my boys aged 13 fishing for crappie, I figure they don't have the patience for bass fishing and I want to get them away from video games and teach them the fundamentals of being environmentally conscious. what do I use to target crappie, baits, live, artifitial, what structures do I look for? basically if you could tell me where to throw my line and what to put on the end would be great. I've caught some before by accident when bass fishing, but have never sat down to fish for crappie. Thanks

 

[gm280]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

I live in central KY, the water temp is around 63-65 degrees, the outside temp is around 80, but will drop to high 60's. Don't know if any of that is important, what is important is that I want to take my boys aged 13 fishing for crappie, I figure they don't have the patience for bass fishing and I want to get them away from video games and teach them the fundamentals of being environmentally conscious. what do I use to target crappie, baits, live, artifitial, what structures do I look for? basically if you could tell me where to throw my line and what to put on the end would be great. I've caught some before by accident when bass fishing, but have never sat down to fish for crappie. Thanks

I've always had great luck during this time of the year using artificial crappie jigs with a very small cork bobber about 16" up the line and pitch them towards any structure in the water around the edge of the banks. And try different colors until you see what they like the best. Use a slow retrieve and try to get the bobber close to any branch, stump or dock support and they will suck it under quickly... If they fails to yield anything, you can always use a similar setup with a number 4 or 6 Aberdeen hook and a minnow with the bobber 16? or so the same way... But instead of retrieving slowly let it sit for a minute or so first... Any crappie worth its weight will take it quickly as well...

 

[colbyt]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

Last week in Lexington the crappie were on the banks laying eggs. Not sure how long that lasts. Usually they are found near structure and deeper after the spawn..

If they are biting where you are they will hit all of the above. Live minnows, a slip bobber and just enough weight to take the minnow down works well when they are deeper. They have tender jaws so a light hook set is best.

Going to Taylorsville?

 

[Javelin JD]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

Thanks all for the reply, I'll have to hit Bass Pro or Cabelas in the first part of the week, any excuse to go to one of these stores is a plus, I'm guessing I'll need a light line as well as bobbers. Taylorville is on my agenda, gonna hit Nolin next, wanna try green river lake and taylorsville in the next couple weeks. Colbyt, I'll try that other site, and thanks. gm 280 thanks for the tips, I'll give them a try, got a place in mind that has multiple structures.

 

[IraRat]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

Good luck my friend.

My boys are now 21 and 17, and I totally failed at pulling them away from the video games and enjoying the outdoors with me.

 

[Javelin JD]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

I know at first it'll be a forced event for atleast one, the other is biting at the bit to go. Hoping all goes well, and memories are worth remembering.

 

[projo198]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

How did it go?

We did VERY well with crappie this season. Usually I miss the prespawn but not this time!

This year I used a crappie rig with #4 hooks. I added a weighted jig at the bottom to help with casting, this also put 3 minnows on the rig instead of just 2.

This with a skip bobber was getting me steady crappie from about 4-10 feet off the shore around 7-9 pm. They seemed to have slowed down though.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

Lots of info absorbed by me here, eggerda@crappiefishingweapon

 

[boatman1971]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

jigs and crappie nibblers is one of my favorites

 

[Javelin JD]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

I did miss all the excitement, I woke up the twins, one was pretty eager to go the other stated "Dad, I didn't get much sleep, can we go another time". Figures. My oldest went along as well but napped on the boat. So of the two boys that went, they had a good time, catching some fish (weeds) and got really excited. Found a likely spot this past week that looks like a good place to try. I know the bite is slow, but I know once they reel in their first fish they'll be hooked, no pun intended.

 

[Drift Master]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

well I live in Oregon and here we kill them in artificial crappie jigs and even though we don't have many crappie and our water is 40-60 year round when we do catch fish most are well over twenty inches and huge

 

[Javelin JD]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

I'm not an avid fisherman as I'd like to be, bills, kids, choirs, WIFE, etc keep me from it. I do like to bass fish and can be out all day if I could. The water temp is around 80-85 according to the fish finder at the spot I'm going. I was thinking of getting some minnows and having the boys toss them out on a bobber. Am I overthinking or should I go in the deeper water where the temps are colder with jigs, and other baits.

 

[colbyt]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

Here in KY I would think the crappie would be back in the deeper water by now. Find a place with a drop off and you can fish the bank while the boys crappie fish. 80 degree water sounds off by a bit to me. It just hasn't been that warm yet.

 

[Javelin JD]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

I was thinking about that temp. could be the creek I was in last week or the temp gauge not being correct. Looking at a map of rough river trying to decide where to go. What else am I gonna do on a 12 hr work day. Tuesday is the day, gonna give it a shot anyway, and hope for the best.

 

[colbyt]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

What is that nice lake to the East of you? Looks close on Google maps.

Rough River looks a long way off. Kids get bored quick when the fish don't bite.

 

[Javelin JD]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

I would like to hit that little spot, it's in a gated community called doe valley. I do have some friends in there, but they only allow up to a 9.9 hp on the water. Rough is really only about 25-30 miles, it's not too bad. I prefer Nolin but the drive is longer.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

You should try long line trolling for Crappie, it is by far the most productive presentation I've ever used.

It makes locating Crappie easy and catching them even easier.

Troll 2" curly tail grubs on 1/16 oz. jig heads at 1 mph in 8-12' of water.

 

[colbyt]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

I asked the Kentucky members in another forum with kids and a day trip and they said:

I'd put in at Brandenburg and run a little down river to big blue

You can't beat rough river in the spring or fall for a day trip. Nolin in the fall gives up some slabs.

 

[Javelin JD]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

thanks Colby, we usually go to rough, had a pretty good time the other day, didn't catch any crappie, but my boy caught his first bass off a minnow, he's pretty excited. He wants to go fishing in the ohio, we live in B'burg so I'll take that advice you gave me and run with it.

 

[colbyt]

Re: crappie fishing advice (needed)

Not me. I only collected it for you.

Crappies will seem a bit dull after the first bass.