Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

[KRS]

Went to Lake Pleasant this weekend, headed out before dark and found a nice cove, stayed in about 30' of water, anchored, put out the crappie light....<br /><br />... the little 1" fish showed up....<br /><br />... then an hour later the shad showed up....<br /><br />... then.... nothing.<br /><br />Caught 3 catfish (two pole license, second pole on the bottom).<br /><br />I was instructed to wait for the crappie or striper to show up and start eating the shad, then cast an anchovie or plastic shad jig throught them.<br /><br />I'm stumped and a little disappointed, looking for advice.<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

They use them here under bridges all the time.other than that i dont know.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

Same here, KRS, got the submergible green light, tied up under the bridge...saw a bunch of ghost minnows...were the shad where you could see 'em, or were you marking 'em on your graph? Couldn't tell about shad - my buddy's fishfinder is more of a child's toy than real equipment (bottom of the line humminbird). Tried castnetting a few times came up empty. <br /><br />Caught one little 11" white bass on a sassyshad. Next time I'm taking minnows.<br /><br />You gotta have a special license to fish 2 poles?

 

[KRS]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

I saw the ghost minnows, and could see the shad in 3' of water, even netted a few and tried fishing them.<br /><br />No fish finder <br /><br />In Arizona you can buy a 2 pole stamp for $8 or so, it's worth it

 

[KRS]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

Was hoping for more input, if anyone has ideas, please pass along.

 

[ztim]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

Lights work, for me, around a pier or bridge. I have tried it out in the open, and never had any luck attracting anything.<br /><br />It may take more times to get results. Trying it once does not mean it doesn't work. Good luck.

 

[KRS]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

Good point, thank you.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

I use mine under a bridge,tie a lantern from the bridge then put a submersable light about 3 feet deep in the water.I was fishing in 26ft deep water.I put about 3 lines in the water with minnows trying different depths.<br />I caught so many crappie and white bass a couple weekends ago i lost count after about 40..

 

[jtexas]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

thanks Gary - question - did you pick a random spot under a random bridge, or were you in a known "hotspot"?

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

The key IMO with lights is to use them where crappie are known to be...<br /><br />With that said, the lights don't attract the crappie, whitebass, stripers etc. They do attract the bait fish that like to feed on plankton/whatever, and that attracts the fish...<br /><br /><br />So if you attract the baitfish, if there are not any crappie nearby, it's not going to help you.<br /><br />You need to use them around known crappie havens...

 

[KRS]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

I was hoping for more of a miracle light

 

[KRS]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

Talked to someone who fishes there successfully, he said I will never see the crappie in the light, they are down further, ... I need to jig the minnows through them.<br /><br />I was waiting to see one

 

[heycods]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

It sounds a little deep to me. And I got to agree got to be where they are. Habitat. Get a good fish finder, you should see the bait fish in the cone, with larger arks suspended in with them (crappie) feeding. Jig or suspend minnows to the depth your seeing the suspended feeding fish. Maby crappie maby whites. It may take several hrs. for the fish to arrive.Are you baiting the fish while green lighting? Soured milo or wheat works for us. After a while you may see the cats moving into the pattern on your sonar. Sat night we were green lighting on a new spot, No crappie but we did hav one flathead of about 20# come in to feed. We couldnt intice him but it was fun to watch. He was working about 8' under the water.

 

[KRS]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

never thought of chummin'

 

[Tornadofish]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

I have to say. I have been Crappie fishing for years Mostly bank but also boat . I recently acquired a new boat and bought the green lights. Nothing, I went back to the basic floating lights white caught 30 first time out. I think sometimes we out think ourselves. People have been catching fish for centuries. Do the fish get more intelligent. I do not know but when all else fails go back to the basics. Another thing always try out of the envolope. Been fishing for crappie in Feb only caught them in a 2 Ft square wind out of east 20 MPH caught limit. Just try it all

 

[awnee]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

i havent been fishin too long but i've never herd of a crappie light. But i love crappie, where do i get a light.

 

[KRS]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

any sporting goods store or bassproshops, etc.

 

[Tornadofish]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

i havent been fishin too long but i've never herd of a crappie light. But i love crappie, where do i get a light.

 

[Tornadofish]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

As far as getting lioghts depends if fishing from bank or boat. Wal-Mart has lights for boats and also any sporting goods that carry fishing supplies. If you are bank fishing Coleman laterns work great just put as close to the water as possible

 

[awnee]

Re: Crappie Lights.... tried it but no luck?

neat, thank you!