Crappies Rule!

[Waco]

hey guys I was reading some posts about all the people that liked crappie fishin. By the way, I call'em "Specks". I thought maybe we could get together and compare notes. I live in the southern most part of Georgia, and its definitley that time of year. I've been going as often as possible lately. Only real luck that I've had so far is trolling relatively slow with a "Hal Fly" and a minnow. Some of you guys from Al, Fla, Miss, SC, should be able to identify with me. Let me know. <br /><br />

 

[Trent]

Re: Crappies Rule!

Lake Eufaula,Alabama. 25 feet of water at night. Run lights over the side and drop light in the water two weeks ago..75 fish four hours fishing. Cold as you know what!!

 

[Waco]

Re: Crappies Rule!

TRENT:<br /> Did you just run around until you found a school, stop the boat and fish straight down? what kind of rig you using? (if you dont mind my asking)

 

[jesus4u02]

Re: Crappies Rule!

I live in Central Florida and just went "SPECK" fishing for the first time this weekend. I'm hooked! Caught a dozen before the weather got nasty. We used small chartreuse, white and silver tube jigs as well as small curly tail jigs. We also used live minnows. Minnows worked better. We trolled until we found the fish on the fish finder, dropped anchor and fished. With the cold weather, they were deep and you had to drop it right in front of their nose. I normally fish saltwater, this was a terrific change.

 

[Trent]

Re: Crappies Rule!

Waco..I know the lake pretty well. I normally fish structure that I have found over the years. I also do like you said and fish a spot I might run across. Minnows are the best, but I do use different colored jigs sometimes. Normally I tight line and bring the minnow up a few cranks at a time till I find their depth. Also I use a cork with a rubberband on the line to go to a certain depth. You can slide the rubberband up and down the line till you find the honey spot. Right now they ARE DEEP. 25 feet or more with this weather. <br /><br />If you learn your lake you should be able to catch them year round..Just got to find them..Every now and then they are REAL SLOW but you just got to keep at it! Good luck.

 

[Grizzly]

Re: Crappies Rule!

N.E. Alabama,Coosa back waters. Prime time here is late Feb. to middle of April. Fish in creeks and slews in 3-8 feet of water. Favorite baits are minnows (shiners are best) and chartreuse metalflake curly tail jigs. Best structure is around stumps and brushpiles. Some of my best fish were caught on a 16' pole dropping a minnow right against the stumps. Put a shiner and split shot 10-12 inches below the bobber and hang on! Only when fishing alone though. Two fishermen in the same boat with two 16' poles can test a friendship...... Late afternoon, water slick as a mirror, sunlight nearly gone. Cruising slowly back to the main channel with a livewell full of slabs (or not). If there's a better feeling, God saved it for the hereafter. Life is good! -G.

 

[rlguns]

Re: Crappies Rule!

Does anyone use crankbaits much . A friend and i were tallin about that today and saay they work pretty good.I was thinkin about getting some and trying them.1/8 oz?By the way im in north alabama.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Crappies Rule!

As Jesus4u stated, minnows works best on specks here in central Fl. <br />I live too far from the Big-O to trailer my boat,and don't have a generator. So I have to wait until my Bro In-law invites me with his rig. We use 5 clamp-on lights with 75Watt standard houshold bulbs,clampped to the transom,and a homemade submersable lamp (auto halogen headlight bulb in waterproof housing).<br />We troll around until the fishfinder lights up, and attempt to detirmine the depth the slabs are in. This is because they will not come up or go down to bite our minnows.<br />We can limmit out if we stay, but only fish for what we plan to clean and eat. But that's still a bunch <br />These are the best fishing trips I have ever been on, and can't wait for his call muc longer...I may call him LOL

 

[EatMoreFish]

Re: Crappies Rule!

central fl<br />minnows about 3 to 5' deep about 2 to 10 ft from the cat tails in a good deep pit. From daylitght to about noon then from say 3 or 4 till dark.

 

[Waco]

Re: Crappies Rule!

Just wanted to add a little to the convo. since what I have been doing is alittle different than the rest of you. Along with using curly tailed mini-jigs, I have had great luck with a beetle-spin (1/8oz)---, gold spinner, black head, red and white grub. Only thing is that you have to use a larger hook than usual with these beetle-spins so that it will grab far enough behind the their "paper thin" mouths. Keep this in mind next time you go out, it may be just what your looking for. One other thing, its best to be moving along at a rather slow pace (1 or 2 on the elec. motor) when using beetlespins, rather than casting and reeling... just works better for some reason. Then when you find'em, make a u-turn, and keep goin over'm at the same speed, keepin your line out approx. the same distance back everytime. ( if you want to get deeper, let more line out, dont slow down) <br /><br />any way....just a thought, let me know if any of you give it a shot. <br /><br />I havent ever fished at night, maybe I should give that a try!!