Thread: What should I have done - Logan Martin

I went to Logan Martin with high expectations yesterday. Did not do so well. I started out long line trolling. I fished from 8 am till 1 pm. I trolled all my usual areas that had depths of 5 to 20 feet. I even tried some new areas. The jigs were in 7 to 10 feet deep. I varied speed from .7 to 1.0 mph. I tried single and double jigs. I tried 1/16 and 1/32 oz jigs. I tried every color I had. The water temperature was from 53 to 57 degrees. I even tried casting jigs in areas that I caught spawning fish but all I had to show for the day was 2 crappie, 2 bass and a small brim.

Maybe I should have tried minnows and deep ledges. I never fished that way before. Last year at this same time the crappie seemed to be in the 7 to 12 foot depths.

I did not see many “bait balls” on my depth finder. Last year I saw lots of them in the areas I fished. I talked with one crappie fisherman and he only caught 4 crappie. He said maybe the fish pulled back out because of the cold weather. I did not think it got enough on Friday or Saturday for them to pull out.

They had a big crappie tournament on Saturday. Maybe they caught all of the fish.

Man I Wanted To Go To Logan Martin Yesterday Soooo Badly. I Thought It Was Going To Be To Windy? How Was The Wind? I Would Think You Could Have Caught A Few On The Deep Dropping Points That Dropped Into The River Channel. Looking For Brush About 18-22 Ft Deep. Thats Where I Would Have Started.

It was calm until about noon. It was bright and sunny. A nice day.

So you would have done the slow troll spider rig thing? That is next on my list to figure out. Last year at this time they were in a lot shallower water. Next time I guess I will buy some minnows and if I don't get them in my regular areas, I will try the slow troll method with minnows.

I mostly fish in cropwell creek. Are you saying I should go out to the coosa river channel or the creek channel in cropwell creek? I did a little long line trolling in the main channel in cropwell creek but I probably could not get my jigs down deep enough since I was long lining.

All the fish at the tournament seemed to come from off the river channel. We also fished Cropwell and a couple other creeks with the same luck you had. Try this (http://www.crappieusa.com/Tournament...rnament_ID=377

).

i normally just cast a jig on points and drops. i have not learned to troll for them yet.

If it were me, I'd have to locate the fish first. With the bright sun and prespawn water temps, you best be near the creek channel. I would slow down a bit and maybe downsize to a 1/64 hair jig /tipped with a minnow. They will move to the shallows from time to time, but the channel with hold fish most of the time. Look for some structure on the channel and you will find the fish.