Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

[TwoWatt]

Ok. The weather is finally breaking and I'm finally getting ready to get my first real boat on the water & do some serious fishing. <br />The lake I go to is full of standing trees in about 6 feet of water. There are many places like this around the lake but all at about the same depth. I think the deepest the lake goes is about 15-20 feet. It's a man-made state park, Worster Lake @ Potato Creek State Park. No outboards(a big +) but a costly entrance($20 entrance pass & $20 launch fee)<br />Anyways. The way I've always fished is to get out in front of the trees, anchor, & throw a slip bobber up near the trees with a live minnow. I cover what I can within casting range. I have had good success with this method, but have always thought I was missing out. <br />What other ways do you all recommend to try ?<br /><br />I've thought of buying one of those big 12 foot poles & jigging around the trees while trolling. But as my first time using a foot controlled trolley motor I may end up avoiding trees more than fishing <br />Either way. My thought of the day. Give me some hints on catching a boatfull. My freezer is empty.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

Live bait has always been good for me along with some smaller hair jigs in white.<br />A bettle spin will work also, but I have always had the most fun with live bait.<br />Light weight and small floater.<br /><br />Enjoy.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

I agree with SBN - use light tackle. I get bored pretty easly with bobbers but have had good luck jigging the treelines and shores. You'll probably come up with some bass using this method too.

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

Thanks SBN. I too like to use the live bait. Like I said, it works. The problem I felt was I am not covering enough area. Thats why the thinking of the super long pole with a jig on the end. Verticle jigging it down around the trees. Try to catch those tree-hugging fishies <br />I have started building up a collection of smaller crappie jigs. <br />Anyone else ? <br />Thanks for the help..<br />(thanks JS. You replied as I was. I do use a ultra light rod & spin reel) Make 'em feel bigger on the line

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

the beetle spin will help you cover more area. The small one swims about 3 feet deep and the medium size will go about 5-8 feet deep and the large about 12 feet deep. you can troll or cast with these lures and they also catch lots of bass. Another lure that works real well is tube jigs. ( I like 1/32nd ounce) Usually yellow. You can use this with your slip bobber

 

[ulbian]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

If you really want to have a blast once you find a bunch of crappies on their beds use a fly rod to pitch almost anything in black. It's a riot to get on a bunch of 12 to 16 inch crappies with a 4/5 flyrod.

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

I finally got out today my 1st time. I only spent a couple hours, but I was skunked. Not even a bite in my normal "hot spots" around the lake.<br />My question is this, in springtime, when they start to spawn, where is the best places to try to catch them? Should I go into 3-4 feet of water around the stumps? My usual hot spots were when the weather was warm/hot. I'd find them in 6-7 feet of water around the stumps (there are stumps & exposed tree trunks as far as 10 feet) <br />I just bought a DVD off Ebay: Babe Winklemans Secrets to Panfishing / Secrets of Crappie Fishing. Link <br />Hopefully good ol' Babe will show me the way, but I'd like some more input on the subject.<br />Thanks again.

 

[mred 2436]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

twowatt : first thing ya need to watch is yer water temp. as spring transition occurs, crappies will become more active as the water nears 48 degrees. if you have this much structure, the best spots are going to be the sunny side of the largest trees. however these fish are also going to be able to spot you easier, thus they will be spooked more. also, if the water is still on the cool side, ya might try using ice flies or tear drop jigs tipped with maggots or wax worms. at this time of year it can be a deadly combination!<br /> also, ya might spend a bit more time cruising the deeper water using yer locater to find submerged structure that may be holding schools of the larger fish yer actually gonna want to catch.

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

Thanks for the info mred. I've never thought about small ice jigs with a little waxworm on it. I'd have a better chance of pulling in some bluegill while I'm at it. (which is a good thing )<br />It's still pretty cold up here in Indiana and hasn't been warming up at all but I'll be getting lots of fish time in this year

 

[mred 2436]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

two : don't feel bad. i was off work yesterday so i finally got to try out the new (used) boat i bought, and have been getting ready for the last three weeks. cold and rainy out, water is at 45 degrees with a low front . i managed to catch two crappies on the bottom in 19 feet of water out of 4 hours of fishing. i could see them on the graph, but they just weren't in the mood!. warmer days are coming!! send me yer e-mail address and i'll send ya some pics of my idea of crappies!

 

[mred 2436]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

two : by the way, i had the honor of fishing against the babe one year on a lake near me (lake arthur, moraine state park). he said it was one of the worst lakes he has ever fished. unfortunately no one had told him it was a better lake to fish at night, rather than in the day, due to its exposure to folks from 3 major communities. me and my partner happened to place fourth that day! i'm sure the dvd will give you some sound advice, but never forget that each body of water ya fish will have its little "quirks"!!

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

mred, What was babe thinking? Some of the biggest fish in the state come out of lake arthur. I guess know one ever told Babe that it aint easy fishing Pennsylvania lakes that get a lot of pressure. Sure isnt like fishing a private lake or some remote lake that gets very little pressure.

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

Thanks again mred.<br />I got the DVD last night & it had some pretty good information. It was nearly a 1.5 hr of old clips on crappie/panfish. (not nearly enough about bluegills) <br />Sure enough. He was suggesting in early spring to run a jig(forget which kind) tipped with a waxworm.<br />I also noticed he was mainly using a tie-off (non-slip)bobber with a small jig & minnow or waxy. No splitshot. I am going to change over my set up to this. <br />I forget the name of the bobber he suggests but after I re-watch it I will post it. <br /><br />I think I am going back out sometime this weekend (I have Sun-Tues off every week) <br />Will see if I can practice my new found knowledge <br /><br />(Oh. email is twowatt@email.com feel free to mail me pics)

 

[rolmops]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

The answer is simple.Fish where the bait is.<br />This time of year that means shallow water that gets hit by the sun.If you want to try a long pole,you should think of the european type telescope mitchel rods.They come from 15 to 20 feet length and are very light.they have great whip action.Your sensitive bobber(defenitely not one of those red and white balls) should be about two feet of line away from your tip and every small move you make will hit the fish. good luck.

 

[NathanY]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

Well I use a 9 ft B&M crappie pole with 6lb silverthread, on a Wally Marshall reel. What I do is take a jig (red head, chartreuse body) and doodlesock around trees. When the crappie are prespawn, or spawning, you are not gonna spook them. Plus the extra long rod will let you reach farther.<br /><br />I have found that Crappie are usually more aggressive this time of year, than hungry. That is why I like the jigs. They dont like those little bug things around their nests, and usually will smash it on sight.

 

[Trent]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

Just to rub it in... Tore them up this weekend. We fish at night with jigs and live minnows. Lights over the side.

 

[mred 2436]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

twowatt : pics are in the mail!!!

 

[mred 2436]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

howdy flahthead! and what part of the state do ya hail from?? if yer drifting pymatuning lake this year, mebbe we could bump bows at padanarum!!!

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Lookin' for Crappie Fishing Advice

Great pics mred. Those bluegills were huge. <br />I didn't have a chance to get out this weekend due to weather. Maybe next week. <br />Thanks again everyone who has replied. <br /><br />Also wanted to say to Nathan, thats exactly what I had intended to do. Get a long rod & jig around the trees. I think that strategy would even work in the summer where I am at. There are hundreds of sunken logs/trees at this lake, if I stay moving I'm bound to run into them. <br />I say a guy last year using that technique & I noticed he was pulling in a lot of fish.