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Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates #11093686 09/10/15 04:43 AM
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GMorg Offline OP
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32° 50.395’ N
96° 28.214’ W

Those are the coordinates to the Shell station in Heath, Texas where you will find the best breakfast burritos on the planet!

I grew up fishing for bluegill and LMB on Murvaul, catfish on the Sabine when the river was “right”, and catching crappie by accident. After chasing sandies and hybrids last year, I decided this would be the year I would learn to catch crappie on purpose. After lurking around this site for a little over a year, I have learned a lot but still have a lot to learn.

Although I've learned a lot and gained confidence, I'm still only picking up a few fish from each tree. That can make for a long day. So, after drooling over the reports here from the big dogs and then reading a lot about building brush piles, I decided it was time for me to give it a try.

Last week I built two and put them next to underwater trees 30 to 50 feet from visible trees that have consistently produced for me … but not in great numbers. Before dropping them, I scanned the structures with DI and marked few or no fish. Then I fished them for about five minutes just to see. After no bites at either place, down they went.

The next evening I just had to go see. So I eased past BP1 under trolling motor power. And what did I see? … Fish! Marked quite a few from near the bottom up to 8 feet deep in 18 FOW with a cluster between the 10 to 15 foot marks. On the first drop I felt a faint tic. And after a couple of minutes hooked up to a dink. After a few more minutes of light bites and no fish, I moved on. But, I moved on with the satisfaction of catching my first crappie off of a brush pile I built and placed and brimming with confidence that I had picked a good place that with time could become a decent producer.

The next hour was spent dipping trees. Picked up a few drinks and two almost-legals. It was hot, the wind had died, and the shade of a distant bridge looked inviting. On the first drop I got that satisfying thump and boated the first keeper of the afternoon. I had to measure him and wondered whether he would have been too short a week ago. The next two were solid keepers. So, with three in the well and a fast bite, I never measured another fish. When in doubt, throw it it out. Caught 24 crappie and ended up with 8 in the box after about an hour. With the Sun headed for the horizon I called it a day … a good day!

My sincere thanks go out to all those who are willing and are able to take the time to share. Y’all sure have helped this newbie.

Wood fish were caught 10’ deep in 16-18 FOW
Concrete fish were caught 14-16’ deep in 18-22 FOW

All fish thumped a BG Baby Shad in Emerald Shad or BG Slab Dockt’r in Blue Ice.

First brush pile crappie.


Fryers.


Fishing is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.
God is good all the time ... and all the time God is good.



Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11093720 09/10/15 05:22 AM
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congrats on having some success w/putting out your own bp's.hope to fish that lake one day.good luck with future trips!

Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11093803 09/10/15 11:34 AM
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Great story GMorg. Sounds like you figured it out pretty well. Nice work. thumb

Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11093809 09/10/15 11:37 AM
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Seems to always be the case with new structure. I put out two bamboo buckets earlier this year on Weatherford, and so far they have had nothing but dinks as well, and those too were put in an area that typically holds fish. Don't give up on them, one day you'll pull up and they'll be loaded. Thanks for the report, well written!

Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11093812 09/10/15 11:42 AM
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Awesome post! Congratulations. Job well done. I started targeting crappie, myself, last week. After fishing for sandies and hybrids. Just happened on some brush piles and caught fish. I was hooked, so to speak.


"I'd rather be fishing!"
[Linked Image]



Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11093837 09/10/15 12:03 PM
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thumb thumb


Life is Good..<><



Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11093899 09/10/15 12:43 PM
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Solid work GMorg


HE aka Fishbonz
Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11093911 09/10/15 12:49 PM
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I've been thinking about making a couple of brush piles in the lake I fish, but I'm unsure about the process. how much brush? best depth? what to use to weigh it down? add bait?

as I said, I'm clueless about the process; any comments would be appreciated.


2014 Ranger RT-188
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Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11093993 09/10/15 01:26 PM
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It's solid fun leaning "NEW".... Be prepared to never stop learning it keeps your trips exciting with or without catchn...
Different times of the year crappy will hold in different depths, placing piles in different depths as well as in areas to protect against different wind directions is the way to go.....
Lots of fun lots of fun....
Like those cords.... thumb


Crappie Guide on Houston TX area lakes. Email to schedule a trip: skscrappiecatchingadventures@gmail.com or call my message line 281-301-9316

REGARDLESS OF HOW MANLY YOU THINK YOU ARE WEARING A PFD CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE.....Onxy A/M 24 PFD's

Check Out SK's CRAPPIE Catching Adventures on YouTube....
https://www.youtube.com/user/fishingorhunting
Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11094022 09/10/15 01:39 PM
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I enjoyed reading that. good job in how you went about it. You should have some fine fishing in the future.


If it ain't yours don't mess with it!
Need a friendly place to talk hunting? www.talkhunting.com

Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11094035 09/10/15 01:47 PM
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I fished with a well known crappie guide on Sam Rayburn several years ago and became hooked on "perch jerking". I started putting my own "Brush piles" in on Toledo several years ago and haven't looked back. Its the way to go unless you only fish occasionally, then go with a guide.

It takes a little work and in some cases a lot of work but it is worth it. You need several due to the fact that they will be found and fished by others with the electronics available today.

If you build it they will come! wink


Randy

I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in!


Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11094948 09/10/15 08:15 PM
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Nice read. I like it!

Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11095085 09/10/15 09:11 PM
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Joe Slab, yeah I got it figured out. I get on here I see what y'all are doing and copy it! Problem is I'm always two weeks behind! roflmao

PlanoPaul, silentkilla, et al, thanks for the replies and advice. I appreciate it. The brush was fresh cut live oak with lots of leaves. I read somewhere (probably here) that might attract dinks at first. Still learning. And it seems I learn something or actually experience what others have said each time I'm on the water. Fun stuff!


Fishing is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.
God is good all the time ... and all the time God is good.



Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11095469 09/11/15 12:41 AM
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Ain't no crappie in Hubbard!!!


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Re: Ray Hubbard Crappie Condos and Coordinates [Re: GMorg] #11096969 09/11/15 06:15 PM
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I prefer fresh willow when I can get it. Rather than tie a bunch of branches together I like to find a whole tree or limb in one piece so it can't be scattered with an anchor. Might get moved a little but will still be one piece.

Obviously these were cut on private property. Rather than trying to load whole trees in boat I tie concrete blocks to tree on the shore and drag the pile out to proper depth and let it go. Toss a marker on it as it sinks so you can mark it accurately on your GPS.

If you need anymore information you can call me at 214-202-7866.


Ernest Paty 214-202-7866
catchcrappie@aol.com

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