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3N | SPAWN #12650384 02/28/18 01:33 AM
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Three Nails Guide Offline OP
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The Spawn

On Monday I hit Lake Palastine to do some scouting after the floods,we have been having. It was great being outside and soaking up the sun.

I don't like to fish by myself, so I texted my friend Clay to see if he wanted to come along.

First off, Clay wanted to fish some skinny water, where we caught some fish last year in 2 foot of water. We fished probably 40 yards bank, Clay caught one keeper female missed one, and I had a hit and miss.

After giving it 15 or 20 minutes we backed out to some deeper brush, in 12 to 14 foot of water. Caught two or three good females about a pound and 3/4 each, then we moved on.

After dropping Clay off at the boat ramp, so he could pick his kids up. I went out to check some stuff and do some more scouting. A lot of spots there just wasn't anybody home yet. I headed north and fished a flat with a brush pile out in the middle of it. To finish my limit, Again the fish were there just waiting there to move up to Spawn. During the spring, Crappie are territorial, and aggressive this is the reason for the hard bites, and they want to knock the Rod out of your hand.

This is my theory of what's going on on Palastine

Water temp is 54 to 62 with the main like 59 give or take some. A big part of what I'm going to discuss has to do with mature fish pound and a half and bigger. So you guys fishing Crappie fest and Crappie masters on lake Fork listen up. Crappie are just starting to move up. Anyone that knows me knows that I don't like to fish shallow 6 foot or less. Because shallow water fish are very unpredictable, shallow fish or affected by weather and fronts more often, than deeper water fish. And as a guide that works against me.

So as a guide I focus on deeper water in the spring, areas I call staging areas. Areas fish sit and wait to go up and Spawn or have spawned and have moved back out to deeper water. A lot of the times this method will produce bigger fish, mostly females.

Now that the water temperatures are good on Palastine. But it takes time for the fish to find that. Just because you find the area with 60 water but you don't get no bites doesn't mean it's a bad spot, they may have not found it yet. Give them time to find it. Give it two or three days and come back and check it again. The good Lord, mother nature whatever you want to call it as to tell them fish to start moving shallow, but not all fish Spawn shallow, but that's another story. For example I cruise by the big 155 bridge and it's loaded with fish. Them are Crappie that just haven't moved yet.

There are fish in the shallows now. I believe these are fish that stay shallow, and live shallow all year. That's why they are there already. Not all crappie go deep in the winter.

Remember, all the crappie don't Spawn at the same time, it comes in waves. That's not to say there's not a peak time for them.

With the moon bight and the nights staying in the 50s or above , you can bet the Crappie are on the move. Remember 2 or 3 days can make a big difference in a spot right now. And it's only going to get better!!

Fish caught on bonehead stump bugs Citrus color. If you haven't gave bonehead tackle a try your missing out. Fish caught in 10 to 14 on brush piles.

If you're looking to get on some spring time Crappie fishing, Or just want to learn how to fish the Spawn, feel free to give me a call.


Take a kid fishing and God bless!!!

Mark at Three Nails Guide
1 903 275 4712



Mark Standridge
East Texas Crappie Guide
Fork Palestine
903.275.4712
www.threenailsguide.com
www.facebook.com/threenailsguide
Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12650419 02/28/18 01:45 AM
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TroyKing Offline
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Excellent report!


The driving force and secret desire of every bass fisherman, is to one day be a crappie fisherman............Could it be that the good Lord just smilies and looks the other way when a fisherman tells a lie?
Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12650422 02/28/18 01:47 AM
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pop r Offline
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thumb Nice read and pictures. Thanks for sharing Mark.

Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12650483 02/28/18 02:09 AM
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Great report and nice looking crappie! thumb


Texas Elite Angler 🎣
https://www.jiglyf.com
Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12650513 02/28/18 02:23 AM
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That's exciting right there!!!!
It is fixing to get good.
Thanks for taking the time to give us a good report, Mark
bouncy

Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12650703 02/28/18 04:14 AM
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PlanoJames Offline
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Great info Mark! Will be giving you a call soon.

Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12650733 02/28/18 04:33 AM
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Great info as always Mark. Been wondering where you have been.

>E


Columbus took a chance and he made it.
Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12650754 02/28/18 04:51 AM
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Awesome post and nice fish. Good job. thumb


[Linked Image][Linked Image]

IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap.

John 3:16

Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12650768 02/28/18 05:02 AM
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Good report Mark. Your right about the bridge fish. Pepop and I caught a big mess under there on Monday. Hearing some reports of fish being caught in the usual areas up north already.

Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12650780 02/28/18 05:17 AM
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I always appreciate when the hardworking guys show up with a story, some pics, and good solid advice...thanks Mark!

fish hooked food

Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12650815 02/28/18 06:15 AM
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I believe that what most of us have thought for many years, that crappie that are hanging around brush in 8 to 17 feet of water are staging and waiting for the right time to go shallow is a myth, those fish are spawning on those areas in the 8 to 17 foot depths. this is why you hardly ever catch big 3 and 4 year old males and females shallow, in 6 inches to 2 feet, its the small immature males and females that go really shallow for some reason. There is a creek that runs thru a cove on a lake I fish, and theres a very large tree amidst a group of smaller trees, with a large flat boulder sitting next to it in 20 feet of water., every year folks go right past it into the back of the cove, and catch a small fish here and there, but if the wind is blowing into the cove, I tie up to the tree, and use a slip cork rig, set at 10 to 12 feet, and catch large males and females .. and plenty of them!!
once I realized that the majority of the nice fish do not spawn shallow, I was able to zero in on areas that were more productive, than fishing hundreds of yards of bankline, to get a dozen or 2 skinny males. Also, In my opinion, paying attention to the water temp is a great waste of time.
moon cycles, hours of daylight, nutrient rich areas, and areas where ive found them in the past is what I pay attention to. areas where shad spawn is great to know as well. Also, the clearer the water is the deeper the fish will spawn.
today I noticed some bluebonnet buds in my yard, and yesterday I saw a few wrens flying around, for me, that has been a good indicator that the fish are getting ready to do thier thing very soon.!!!

Great post Mark, and may your cup overflow this year!!!


COMING SOON! .. THE STICKLE HOOK " the stay level sickle hook". sits level in the water with all knots.! Provides better hook sets and more natural jigging motion. No more adjusting the knot, gluing , or tying loop knots that cause the hook point to tangle in the loop, or worse knick the line.. The jighook that will make all others obsolete !
Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12651121 02/28/18 02:54 PM
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Here I am sitting at work, boatless, reading about fishing reports!!! bang

Good work friend! Them Stine crappie better hide when the new sled arrives!! fish

Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12651133 02/28/18 03:01 PM
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To add to this, I usually will put a top either cedar or bamboo out from spawning areas in 6' to 8' of water. For me it was the easiest way to concentrate Big pre spawn fish and have a gps target to go to and not waste allot of time.


The Truth is six of the seven Dwarfs are not Happy!
Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12651257 02/28/18 03:56 PM
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Action_Jackson Offline
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Awesome report Mark cheers


Katchin krappie...doin surgeries(filleting)...and givin hott grease baths until krunchy and golden brown is what it's all about!!!

"STAY ready for the THUMP"!!!!
Re: 3N | SPAWN [Re: Three Nails Guide] #12651287 02/28/18 04:11 PM
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clap good report Mark,..
We're headed to lake this weekend, knock the winter webs of all the stuff, and do a little
scouting and line-dipping. fish

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