Catch Expectations without Electronics

[Sosalty]

Thanks everyone for responding. Spying on other fishers is not a bad idea! I did get into the shellcrackers this morning, plus the you tube vids are encouraging. I've done lots of scouting and more fishermen are just enjoying a day on the water than filling the boat with slabs. The Guntersville Crappie tourney posted their results. Seems the smallest crappie submitted by the 15 entrees was a 1 & 1/4 lb.er. I'm guessing they caught way more than the 7 fish each weighed in, but to average very nearly 2lbs per fish is impressive.

[NIMROD]

You need to find or build cover . That means work or searching . The searching not easy without electronics unless your fishing visiable cover .

[Yonder]

Start with blowdows, points, known shallow spots (find the drop off ) weed lines, and docks.
Down here you can smell em when they're bedding.
Lots of places to check out. If your sold on depth finders, Scotty makes quality transponder mounts, for the small boat crowd.
You can get to places others wouldn't think of going, with a full size rig.
Good luck!
Post often!

[Ztkirkpatric]

Sink brush in places where you can find it, it'll help you catch more fish.

[Sosalty]

Well, at least I had mixed luck this last trek out on water. As I launched the yak, a repair crew showed up on the bridge. I caught 3 x 9" crappie in 20 minutes then the jackhammer started up real close with cement chunks splashing down. A crane with a man on a platform was lowered to about 15' away with his back to me. I caught another small crappie then gave up due to the racket; paddled underneath him and hooted out at 'im.

Nim, you're right, I need to create bottom brush like my dad used to do. I did get a $35 hand held 'lucky fish finder.' At least I don't spend time fishing where there are none, when I pin point ledges and fish icons, it's a go. First impression is the little basic unit eliminates a lot of unfruitful searching.

I did catch a couple baby bluegills along the launch so put on a 3.5incher and tossed him under overhanging trees. Ahh, the Chattooga River has blue cats. This guy yanked me sideways pretty fast. Good thing the paddle was in my lap ready to become a rudder. He took off across the 50yd channel pulling me faster than I normally paddled. On the far side I decided to chance breaking my 6lb test line to see what he was, got his head up. Maybe 5-6lbs, someday, he'll
be a 50lb.er.

[Ttexastom]

Crappie was a hit or miss, many years ago without electronics.. we had structure sunk, or fished around stumps, or blowdowns. Sometimes we did good sometimes not. I still see fisherman fish this way a lot. Electronics allow you to find crappie when away from your favorite cover. That part of the puzzle solved, it comes to bait and technique. This last part is a constant learning curve. Only on the water experience can help here. Getting with a partner that is experienced can speed things up...!

[wolfhnd]

It depends on the lake. If they tend to suspend in the middle of a lake as someone else pointed out you will need electronics. On some lakes they stay close to structures and shoreline.