a couple of questions. is Squaw creek a good lake for crappie? but I really want to know is how to catch the tilapia there. I would like to catch them on a rod and reel but I also have a cast net. does anyone know where they might be this time of year. and what bait would I use?

I'm not sure on the crappie in Squaw Creek, but as far the tilapia goes, catching them with traditional fishing methods is nearly impossible unless they are spawning, and even then it's tough. I would stick with either the cast net or a bowfishing set up for obtaining them.

I don't know anything about Squaw but I do know you better not use the cast net to try to catch crappie.

Blue Nitro, the cast net is for the tilapia.

Click on the link.
http://youtu.be/zNCIgAFtNxM

If there are any crappie in Squaw, I and everyone I have bank fished with, seen catching fish from boats, others, I have never seen or heard of crappie out there. Few blue gill, too, that I know of. LMBs, and catfish are big out there.

Tilapia? They are literally everywhere and they are really big this year. Two friends went out 3 or so weeks ago with Dannie Golden, a well known fishing guide, and David caught two tilapia and one was close to 4 lbs. He caught one or both of them on a top water lures as I recall. Go figure.

You are not allowed to return Tilapia to the lake; they want them to be harvested or left on the bank. They have a spawning cycle which occurs several times a year as I recall, and breed very fast.

A week later, I caught a Tilapia in that same >3 pound range bank fishing in a cove.

That video posted above should set you up. If you can get back in the creek, I think those who target them usually use a bobber, hook and sinker set up, fishing with worms often, but even corn, etc.

They'll eat anything.

They have fish cleaning stations up by the boat ramp. Catch a bunch, clean them, have lots of one of the better tasting fish to put in the freezer.

Brad

Oh, there's a back story to this.

Trashlapia, spawn ruins the crappie spawn because the males are so aggressive protecting their nest and it keeps crappie from nesting. so catch all you want and fry fry fry just get rid of them!!! lol

If you have a boat w/ decent electronics they are easy to find. They should be hanging out close to the hot water discharge and usually hold on the edge of drop offs. Just look for a bunch of fish grouped tightly together on the bottom.

I was there not too long ago, killed the tilapia. check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7Og_2-ubDc

Man that looks like so much fun. What were you guys using as bait.

Reggie

if I caught a crappie with a throw net it would be by accident. and I am certainly smart enough to release it back into the lake. I am talking about catching tilapia with a throw net.

Live worms either on the bottom or under a float. There is a natural spring pond in my subdivision full of them due to a recent stocking. They ,Talapia , were placed there to help reduce moss and help feed the growing bass population.

A really good video. I wish more fishermen would make trips out to Squaw to target tilapia. It'd help the lake, I suspect, and what a great way to get a freezer full of meat once or twice a year.

These are blue tilapia and from what I have read, they are the most tolerant of the species to cold water and can handle it down to around mid to high 40s. Squaw, with its warm water, has developed a huge population.

When we are out there LMB fishing, we often get tilapia strikes on our plastic worms. They have small mouths but they'll grab the tip of the tails on, say a T-rig, and sort of tug on it.

Brad

We saw a bunch of them in the shallow water when we were bass fishing there, a couple years ago. Always wondered how you would catch them. Entrance fee is to much for me, unless it has been changed.