Texas Fishing Forum

Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman

Posted By: ConwayFishy

Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/15/18 12:20 PM

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.
Posted By: THarris22

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/15/18 01:34 PM

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.
Posted By: ConwayFishy

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/16/18 11:33 AM

Thanks for the tip.
Posted By: crapicat

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/16/18 12:04 PM

What type of catfish do you mostly target? It makes a difference, in the advise, I will give you...
Posted By: TexExp

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/16/18 04:03 PM


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!!
Posted By: butch sanders

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/16/18 06:45 PM

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?
Posted By: Mac817

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/16/18 07:59 PM

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.
Posted By: butch sanders

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/17/18 12:35 AM

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
Posted By: RANDY WOOD

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/17/18 03:58 AM

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
Posted By: Thunk

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/17/18 04:19 AM

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.
Posted By: ConwayFishy

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/17/18 10:51 AM

Channels mostly. I like fishing simple and shallow. Mainly around 8 feet. Use Catawba worms and catfish Charlie.
Posted By: ConwayFishy

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/17/18 10:55 AM

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.
Posted By: ConwayFishy

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/17/18 10:57 AM

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.
Posted By: kodys'papa

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/17/18 11:01 AM

^ 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...
Posted By: Kayak-Hooligan

Re: Could use some tips...New Crappie Fisherman - 03/18/18 05:51 AM

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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