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Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman #12673576 03/15/18 12:20 PM
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ConwayFishy Offline OP
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I've toyed with crappie fishing here and there but never really gone out and after crappie by themselves. I'm a cat fisherman first and foremost...I don't really know to target crappie besides sinking a minnow by some structure and hoping for the best.

With the end of March just around the corner and April and May coming up, What should I generally be doing? Where on the lake should I be fishing. Generally speaking, how deep? Are minnows the best choice?

Not looking to answer the meaning of life here...just some general tips so I'm not way off (Fishing 40 ft by the dam while the fish are in 2ft of water near the river). I just inherited a boat and would like to try and put some fish in the freezer.


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Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: ConwayFishy] #12673716 03/15/18 01:34 PM
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THarris22 Offline
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From now until the end of April you can catch fish in water anywhere from 1' to 30' deep. Some people say crappie this time of year are easy but,for me not so much. Shallow look for reeds or any hard bottom deeper look for brush piles rocks stumps any type structure on edges. Crappie for me are tuff this time of year because I don't fish shallow much,and deep fish are here today gone tomorrow or just want bite at all. Don't want to discourage you but just get some minnows and a hand full of jigs and get after them. Then maybe you can let us know how it is done. Good luck and be warned crappie fishing is addicting.

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: ConwayFishy] #12675308 03/16/18 11:33 AM
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ConwayFishy Offline OP
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Thanks for the tip.


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Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: ConwayFishy] #12675326 03/16/18 12:04 PM
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crapicat Offline
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What type of catfish do you mostly target? It makes a difference, in the advise, I will give you...

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: ConwayFishy] #12675752 03/16/18 04:03 PM
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TexExp Offline
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This time of year...
Fish shallow
Fish hard
Keep moving

2 main techniques are minnow or jig and bobber or straight jigging.
You'll find almost the same amount of proponents for both.

I like vertical jigging and moving fast.
If you're not getting bit MOVE! cool

99.9% of spring crappie fishing is location - If they are there, they will usually bite.

Good luck out there!!



Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: TexExp] #12676011 03/16/18 06:45 PM
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butch sanders Online Content
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Originally Posted By: TexExp

This time of year...
Fish shallow
Fish hard
Keep moving

2 main techniques are minnow or jig and bobber or straight jigging.
You'll find almost the same amount of proponents for both.

I like vertical jigging and moving fast.
If you're not getting bit MOVE! cool

99.9% of spring crappie fishing is location - If they are there, they will usually bite.

Good luck out there!!





How high above the jig do you set the bobber?
Is it variable, or is there a formula?

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: ConwayFishy] #12676107 03/16/18 07:59 PM
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Mac817 Offline
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Rule of thumb that I use is distance between bobber and jig is 2/3 the water depth. Slip bobber allows for setting depth at any depth you prefer.


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Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: Mac817] #12676404 03/17/18 12:35 AM
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butch sanders Online Content
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Originally Posted By: Mac817
Rule of thumb that I use is distance between bobber and jig is 2/3 the water depth. Slip bobber allows for setting depth at any depth you prefer.


thanks

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: ConwayFishy] #12676771 03/17/18 03:58 AM
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RANDY WOOD Offline
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The real key to catching shallow spawning crappie is water clarity.
Clear water they spawn deeper. Stained water they get in skinny water.
They key is figuring out that


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Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: ConwayFishy] #12676791 03/17/18 04:19 AM
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Thunk Offline
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Crappie will stage in and out this time of year. 3-15 ft. In most waters. As said before stick with slip bobbers for most applications. Look up and print out jig colors for water clarity. Can't go wrong with minnows for live bait. Tip your jig with a minnow when jigs aren't cutting it. Look up vidoes for your sonar and learn what Crappie look like on structure and open water and you will be off to a good start.

Last edited by Thunk; 03/17/18 04:21 AM.
Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: crapicat] #12676878 03/17/18 10:51 AM
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ConwayFishy Offline OP
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Channels mostly. I like fishing simple and shallow. Mainly around 8 feet. Use Catawba worms and catfish Charlie.


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Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: RANDY WOOD] #12676881 03/17/18 10:55 AM
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ConwayFishy Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: RANDY WOOD
The real key to catching shallow spawning crappie is water clarity.
Clear water they spawn deeper. Stained water they get in skinny water.
They key is figuring out that


The lake I fish is almost always stained...and high. So being in and around trees and brush is almost never a problem. Maybe I'll start out around 8 feet this morning and go from there. Thank you.


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Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: crapicat] #12676882 03/17/18 10:57 AM
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ConwayFishy Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: crapicat
What type of catfish do you mostly target? It makes a difference, in the advise, I will give you...


To go a little further, I actually enjoy using cane poles in around that 8 feet of water. I've considered rigging one pole up for a minnow and bobber and the other for my catfish and trying them both in 6-8 feet of water now through middle of may.


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Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: ConwayFishy] #12676886 03/17/18 11:01 AM
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kodys'papa Offline
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^ gig em...Cane poles are a fun way to fish and the method you described could work... 8 feet may be a little deep for spawning crappie...


Hooking a fish is like playing string with a cat. The exact size, shape, color of string matters less than how you wiggle it- and little cats are easier to fool than big ones. John Gierach
Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman [Re: RANDY WOOD] #12677819 03/18/18 05:51 AM
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Originally Posted By: ConwayFishy
I've toyed with crappie fishing here and there but never really gone out and after crappie by themselves. I'm a cat fisherman first and foremost...I don't really know to target crappie besides sinking a minnow by some structure and hoping for the best.

With the end of March just around the corner and April and May coming up, What should I generally be doing? Where on the lake should I be fishing. Generally speaking, how deep? Are minnows the best choice?

Not looking to answer the meaning of life here...just some general tips so I'm not way off (Fishing 40 ft by the dam while the fish are in 2ft of water near the river). I just inherited a boat and would like to try and put some fish in the freezer.


You and I both. I usually target stripes fish, but this "thump" is getting addicting.

Originally Posted By: RANDY WOOD
The real key to catching shallow spawning crappie is water clarity.
Clear water they spawn deeper. Stained water they get in skinny water.
They key is figuring out that


You're right about that, today I saw a 15" female stomache full of eggs look like it's about to explode get caught in maybe about a 1 to 2 feet of water. Water clarity was stain green


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