ps.. I think Belton is going to be just fine!!!

You found my hole lol!

Ken, nice discussion. I spent all last week catching fish in 6 inches of water, tight lining within 12 inches of the bank. The females I caught had eggs that were almost ready to be laid, but I mostly caught males. Best I can tell, Easter came early and the spawn is happening right on time. The warm water temps and high water conditions have convoluted the process for most folks though. Folks that can't seem to locate the fish shallow are not fishing tight enough to the cover...they are IN the cover, not BY the cover. Staging areas can be productive right now...In fact, I watched a fish eagle grab a female crappie off of a staging area on Friday...I was very close by and she was huge...I asked him if he wanted to trade, but I got no reply!

Of course, the early spawners are already back out in deeper water (same as every year) trying to recover from the rigors of spawning.

I did notice that all coves were not being equally used this year, as much as prior years. Seems that the coves with quick access to deeper water were doing the best...in fact, that was THE determining factor on whether I was gonna find fish or not...go get you some...

With low lake levels the past several years, crappie picked what they could for cover to spawn. We forget just how much they like lots of cover to spawn. Notice where Carey Thon is catching them; right in the jungle stuff. They will be in tangled messes for sure.

LOL, I'm STILL cleaning twigs, limbs, and brush out of my boat! Took a friend one day last week (who never fished this way) that couldn't believe what he was seeing...said he never saw a crappie come in the boat with his mouth around the end of the pole! Said it was combat fishing alright, except more like a Seal Team 5 Extraction exercise to him...whereupon, he borrowed an extra reel I keep spooled up with braid and joined me...he sure was wishing for a stiffer rod after a few worked him /his rod over In those treetops! He just couldn't get over using a 10ft pole with only a foot of line off the tip end and catching crappie that way...After we got back to the ramp, he decided that maybe there is good cause for different types of equipment (stiff rods, braid, etc.)...To which I graciously replyed, Yes Sir you are right...

Hi Crapicat,

What 10 ft pole are you using? I've never felt one that I thought was stiff enough. They all seem to be very flimsy. I would like to get one that is much stiffer than the typical 10 footer I see in the box stores.

Bonehead 10's...incredibly strong backbone, tough, fast tip, well balanced, and incredibly sensitive...hogs those fish out of the thick stuff...nothing else even comes close...and I have tried virtually every rod I can get my hands on...they just won't perform let alone survive in my kind of fishing...man, I have broke so much tackle even stuff folks are always bragging on, it just doesn't take long for me to sort out the good from the junk...Last week, my buddy could not believe the abuse I put my rod through (of course I do that on a regular basis), even whipped a few snakes out of the way so I could fish below them...lol....Basically, I destroy lesser rods, regardless of cost...I am tough on rods, so I have to fish the best available rod I can get my hands on. Anyway, that's how I roll and that's what I fish...

Guess that makes me the "Pigman" of Crappie Fishing...because I get in there and root them out. LOL

Even when I fish deep water brushpiles, casting, bridges, etc., I still prefer the Boneheads over other offerings. They are well worth the money they cost...especially, for me, because I abuse equipment more so than most folks...hope this information helps, Twolakes

Good read and right-on Ken.

Also, the creeks seem to have been more consistent, if you could find the right places.

Thanks Crapicat. You must have learned to get up in the thick brush on Wright Patman.

I'll have to get my hands on a BoneHead and see how it feels. Sounds like I'll end up buying one.

Yep! Maudlin lake area, to be exact! All along that stuff the creek and river...Man, if I ever get back over that way, I keep a spare on hand of every length, and I could bring'em with me...for testing purposes! I hear the crappie are going nuts below the dam where the old crappie house used to be...I miss fishing there...

I like the 7's and 8's on the boat and 10's in the rough stuff and on the bank...that 10' is a well balanced treetop and brush tank when paired with a 2500 or 3000 Shimano spinner and as sensitive as anything on the market. Heck, I have gotten bit and by the time I figured out what happened(involuntary reflexes happen with these rods) I got a pound fish flying over my head clear on the other side of the boat..LOL....Plus, I wouldn't be scared to take it salmon fishing...sounds crazy, but I am totally serious...Warning they do take a little getting used to...small easy hook sets via a flick of the wrist or a pull on the line with your offhand is all that is necessary...and remedial training is occasionally needed...LOL