when in a boat without a fishfinder what would you guys look for to catch crappie

a boat with a fish finder this time of year....

I would look for bridge columns. Usually this time of year the crappie are staging around such structure. Drop it to the bottom and work it up until you find the proper depth. Also timing would be key.

If your fishing standing timber, I would look for trees that are leaning over at a 45 degree angle. Before the lake was flooded, trees that are growing next to a creek bed, will lean toward the middle of the creek, due to the angle of the bank. You can go out to a lake and sometimes see the path of the creekbed by looking at the trees. The larger hardwood trees would grow next to the creeks where they wood have plenty of water. You can also count down the depth with you line. Crappie will move up and the creek beds and find structure. Hope this helps some, good luck.

I'd look for bygeorges brother in law!! He has huge ears, and makes a great sonar when you put his head under water.
But if,n you cant find him, i'd go with what SJ said. good luck!

Without sounding like a smart britches, if I were in a boat w/out a fish finder, I'd seriously consider purchasing one. I went a few years w/out my "little buddy" Garmin and found that my luck of finding fish were just about nil. Yeah, every once in a while I'd happen upon a nice spot that produced for me, but often than not my ice chect came home empty. I'd suggest, that if you're fishing a particular body of water, to get to know it. Talk to fellow anglers and see if they'll lead you onto a spot or two. Bridge pilings are nice, but I've often heard that pilings will hold a lotta fish, but the bigger fish are hold up in the wood!!

Luner Luck - Billy

bridge columns... shade and structure.

thanks guys going to purchase a fish finder just got the boat traded it for a dog its 1986 bayliner with 50hr motor only been in the water 4times since ive had it, have had good luck with catfish know a few spots but dont know anything about crappie fishing, only time i caught a lot of crappie was a guided trip with mr rollins

I caught crappie for years with no fish finder. (I don't pay much attention to the fish finder when crappie fishing now. I use the GPS more then the graph.) The trick is to keep moving until you find them. (That's true even if you have a fish finder. If you're in a spot for 5 minutes with no fish, move.) Try to stay in 15 to 30 feet of water around structure, drop your jig/minnow to the bottom and slowly work it up keeping count of your cranks so you can go right back to that depth if need be. After 2 or 3 trys, go to the next tree/column.

When you find them remember where you are. Mark the place somehow. On your next trip, start there.

Kevin

This time of year look for creeks where they cross under a bridge and if you fish the columns. The maybe some standing timber along a tree line.

In the fall and spring find some grass beds and fish them slow trolling with your troll motor. In the fall fish the outside of the grass bed so it will be some where about 12' +- a couple of feet. Use a 1/16oz jig to get deep enough. In the spring find some grass near the bank or on a flat and slow troll using a 1/32oz jig to keep it off the bottom. Good water for early spring is 3' to 6' maybe even a little deeper and then as spring moves into late spring move out some to more like 6' to 12' around the grass and move back to a 1/16oz. jig.

Hope this helps some!

thanks guys will try this weekend on ray hubbard to see if i can catch a few crappie