Lot of us are NON-boaters. It is almost that time of the year for non-boaters to load up on the crappies and have a blast. On top of my head, I put together a list to go by. I am sure I can't cover them all... Feel free to fill in or edit or make your own list....

The bottom line is....Let's get ready and Go after them!!!!


10. Take off your shirt and stand outside at 6:00am for an hour, if you don't catch a cold, you might catch them shallow.

9. Look for the birds early in the morning, if they are flirting and dancing, so are the fish.

8. Look for the tree buds, not flowers

7. Go back to your record last spawn (i.e. journal, computer, photos). Take advantage of your experience.

6. If you see the Blue Bonets, then follow any truck with waders in the back 'cause chances are they have found them for a couple weeks now.

5. Stake out at Bass Pro Long Crappie Rod Section or Waders Section and offer any potential expert free lunch!!!

4. Join C.A.T. and attend to every meeting, get to know each and every members.

3. Post on TFF and offer to cover 1/2 expenses for an empty backseat.

2. Post on TFF and offer to cover ALL expenses for an empty backseat.

1. Book a guide on your favorite lake early and let him know that you would like to focus on wading for spawning crappies.

Book a guide on your favorite lake early and let him know that you would like to focus on wading for spawning crappies.


do you have any recommendations? i didn't know guides would take you on a wade fishing trip. i usually fish grapevine and joe pool. what are the best lakes for wade fishing?

Guides will be responding in this thread soon enough...NO WORRY there...

OldSaltDog, I know of a way that you can get a fishing trip,(maybe with a proffesional guide), in a boat, on lake Lewisville durring the spawn for only $45.00 and also as an added bonus you can get four more trips this year for only $25.00 ea. There hasn't been a bargin like this since icecream cones cost a nickle.

By the way, Grapevine is a good Bank fishing lake but I don't reccomend wading there unless you're a good swimmer.

Oh, how you ask? Simple, join the Crappie club and enter the draw tournament in March.

I wade Lavon all the time. Lakes with murky water are better for wading IMHO. Fish will go shallower and don't spook as easy.

I really get excited when we get about 4 days of sunny 70 degree days with nights in the high 50's to low 60's.
Longer days and warmer water are the key. Put your waders up right now cause it's still too early. I'm catching big fish 40' and all I'm gonna catch shallow is a cold.....

I think Daylite savings time starts 03/09 with the later sunlite, the water will warm in the afternoons. The 380 bridge should get pretty hot by mid month. Some of the coves on the Northwest side of the lake will pick up soon. But, from what I see from the next 10 days, it will be at least a couple of weeks. I need new waders..

I gotta agree with Jerry. I've wade fished Lavon for several years now in the Spring and have done really well each year. And with the water as high as it is this year, it should be very good. One thing though....Lavon in the Spring and cottonmouths seem to go hand in hand. So if you go there to wade, and particularly if you put crappie on a stringer and pull it behind you, expect to get "real friendly" with those snakes. But they don't bother the fishing...just the fishermen

I guide on both JoePool, Grapevine and I don't wade! I have a boat that will move a long in 6in. with no problems, unless there's rocks. Stumps, logs, hydrilla, cattails, thick mud posses no problems, but rocks will eat up my prop.
GoodLuck
CrappieMaster

Guy is right. LAvon, and Ray Hubbard are loaded with critters. Snakes will latch onto a stringer of crappie and you won't know it till you pull that stringer up close. Either of these lakes should be really good in a couple of weeks. Time change is on the 9th, so the afternoons will get good right about that time. If you wade, make sure that you look closely at every tree that you walk under or up to. I've seen some trees that were covered with snakes. That's where the fish are.

could someone explain how daylight savings times helps at all??

If I get off at 4. I can fish till 8 and it will still be lite outside. That will be the warmest the water will get early in the season.

Opus, it's so simple I can't believe you have to ask.
You see, when we 'spring ahead' the cows don't know we did it and quit giving milk. When they don't give milk they don't lay down and everyone knows that if cows don't lay down fish don't bite! Course that is only true if the moon won't hold water.
SEE, simple.
(This is actually an old Indian fact and being a Red Man from Oklahoma, I'm breaking the law by telling you this!)
Don't tell anyone who told you!
Okie Bob

I thought it was the other way around, if the cows were down the fish aren't biting/moving! now I am so confused or Grandpa lies...

Roger, Grandpa does NOT lie, never did, never will. He just didn't know about daylight savings time. Changes the whole world.
Okie Bob

Here is a question:

I am a avid wade fisherman and tuber during the spawn and have never ( THANK GOD ) had to deal with this , but my question is this:

1. How can you tell the difference between a cotton mouth and a fish snake? ( I personally do not want to be close enough to see the white of the mouth! Not sure about you, but I care not to get that personal with the snake)

2. If a snake, cotton or fish, get a hold of your stinger or refuses to leave you alone, what is the best way to remove the snake from the stringer! I'd hate to lose great crappie!

3. Do you think a basket is better than strigger? I have heard numerous horror stories of using baskets, as well as stringers!
I look forward to hearing from all the wise men!