I have learned that pitching a bait over the top of a brushpile can
be much more effective than dead sticking a bait in the brushpile.

I had gotten away from that , settled in to dead sticking almost all the time.
Wonder how many fish I have missed over the last couple of years by
being hard headed and only using one presentation.

MO

I start off pitching, then try jigging/deadsticking.

Might just be me, but I think they "THUMP" it harder, if the bait is moving.

Once I find and mark a pile ,I will first fish the perimeter by casting to target the aggressive fish around it before I zero in on the pile itself. If I`m getting action on the perimeter I stay with this tactic until it slows then I focus on the pile by casting on the pile and dead sticking.

I've learned that just because you can see them, doesn't mean they are hungry..
I've learned that the bite can be upward too, watch your line.
I've learned that when they quit biting move on, come back later.
I've learned that the 3 rules of crappie fishing are..location-depth-presentaion.
I've learned that bait size is very important.
I've learned that they can run,...but they can't hide...I got too much 'stuff' LOL.
I've learned that Crappie fishing is a lot more fun that bass fishing...now I catch fish.


~

I learned that when you relocate, and you take a stringer with a dozen fish on it out of the cooler and toss it overboard, be sure that the stringer is securely fastened.
I also learned that 30 minutes of dredging with a double rig of treble hooks is not enough time to recover said stringer.

At 2 mile bridge I have started a stop and pause drop, in about 18 inch intervals, when vertical jigging. Get a few hits on the way down the moment you pause and then continue on to the depth on the screen if no bites

At the slips this year they were very deep about a month ago. I mean hugging the bottom in 12 FOW, hopped a frog 6 inches or so off the bottom and they would nail it... That was a new one for me

When you think you have the crappie dialed in....better think again...

I am starting to remember that you have to be on the water to catch a fish. Boat in driveway = 0 fish.
Also, 6" away from tree might be too far away.

This!

I find myself doing the same thing, just setting up right over the brush pile and fishing vertical. I need to try pitching more.

Thanks Mo!

If you build it they will come.

I've learned that TFF is my Facebook! And everything I've learned about crappie has come from you guys!
THANKS

Mo, I'm not sure about that remembering part That seems to get worse each week.
But just today my daughter sent a t-shirt for my birthday that gave me a clue. It read
The secret to fishing........... fish where the fish are.

Then I remembered a slow day on Fork about 2 yrs ago and Max said almost the same thing. We had hit about 40 trees and no fish and Max said, I know what's wrong..... you keep stopping at trees that don't have fish.

Max smart man

that's funny stuff there, i'll remember that one, l o l