Finding schools of crappie in shallow lakes?

[jbjennings]

Anyone know of a way to find schools of crappie in shallow lakes? My lake has lots of cypress brakes and scattered cypress trees and averages about 6ft. deep, with lots of aquatic vegetation although it's not bad in the winter and spring. I've found myself catching plenty when they're biting, and really nice ones, but would like to find some schools to put my 8yr. old son on. Sonar is useless with the weeds as far as I can tell. BTW, I live in the south, with warm waters........
Any ideas?
JBJ

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Finding schools of crappie in shallow lakes?

i have found when you catch one, stay close to that spot. they may stay there today, and move during the night.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Finding schools of crappie in shallow lakes?

I used to fish for crappie alot in Fla in shallow water. I did a couple of things:
1. Go to the upwind side of the lake, cut the engine and drift downwind with a bunch of poles out with minnows on bobbers. Throw out markers when you run over a group of them.

2. Troll with beetle spins and jigs tipped with minnows.

 

[kriegersa]

Re: Finding schools of crappie in shallow lakes?

may sound weird but i read it in a magizine. you can smell school's of crappie their poop give's off an odor so if your driving and smell something pugent stop and try to cast a few time. then follow the other directions above hope this helps

 

[Dave Barnett]

Re: Finding schools of crappie in shallow lakes?

One way I have fished for crappie with a good deal of success, is to troll with a deep running plug such as a Rapalla shad rap. When a strike is made and a crappie is caught, I kill the engine and use my trolling motor to put me where the strike was made. Then I fish it out with jigs, minnow or whatever the bait or lure of choice is. With your lake being shallow with lots of vegetation the deep runner may not be an option you can pursue. If this is the case maybe a rooster tail or spinner would do the trick. I love to crappie fish and I have caught them with great success on just about every bait and lure you can think of. A good ole worm floated on a bobber will sometimes put more crappie in the livewell than a whole box full of pricey lures. God Bless. Dave

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Finding schools of crappie in shallow lakes?

Thanks for the advice, guys.
I'm going to try the "drift" method with shiners tomorrow. I'm on vacation and they're not biting. Surely a minnow will convince some to bite. I'm hoping if this method works for me to get my son on them shortly.
Keep the ideas coming........
later,
JBJ

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Finding schools of crappie in shallow lakes?

weed edges and holes.

ditto on the beetle spins

 

[osborn159]

Re: Finding schools of crappie in shallow lakes?

weve fished em all winter, 58-65deg water 8-10ft, near cattails mostly, when you catch one loop around bet you catch a few more, one day round the first of the year 2 boats 50 specks, limits 25 per baot in fla, we were culling out small ones kept nothing under 10" biggest was 13.5in nice fish, taste real good too w/ hushpuppies and coleslaw

 

[milmat1]

Re: Finding schools of crappie in shallow lakes?

may sound weird but i read it in a magizine. you can smell school's of crappie their poop give's off an odor so if your driving and smell something pugent stop and try to cast a few time. then follow the other directions above hope this helps

TRUE !!
Any good catfish man will tell you he can Smell them Catfish too.