Thanks Jim. I just want to make sure I understand about the effect of the spawn. If I understand correctly, during the spawn, the fish are in very shallow water, more agressive, and this is the time when most people, especially in the south where I come from, seek them out. But are you saying that the spawn here is not the best time to fish using the slow trolling method? I have never really been very successful catching crappie in SD(other than old Henshaw), so I don't quite get the picture yet.
Thanks Jim. I just want to make sure I understand about the effect of the spawn. If I understand correctly, during the spawn, the fish are in very shallow water, more agressive, and this is the time when most people, especially in the south where I come from, seek them out. But are you saying that the spawn here is not the best time to fish using the slow trolling method? I have never really been very successful catching crappie in SD(other than old Henshaw), so I don't quite get the picture yet.
Well, crappie are crappie no matter where you fish for them. When they are in the spawn they are up in very shallow water and very aggressive. In the Pre-Spawn period they are in deeper water (deep is relative, in Henshaw 12-15 ft, in Lower Otay 20-25) just outside the spawning area. During this period they are feeding heavily to gain strength for the spawn. If you can find them on the electronics you can tight line them or if they are deep enough you can go with a spider rig. In the Post-Spawn (where I believe we are now) they are back in the deeper water recouperating from the spawn and not in a feeding mood.
Real soon now down here in San Diego (Lower Otay, San Vicente, El Capitan, Hodges, Henshaw) they will be back out on the flats over 20-25 feet of water (16-20 at Henshaw) chasing shad. This is when the long line trolling really pays dividends because they are so scattered. It is my favorite time of the year. All the opportunistic guys have given up on them and I can drift over the flats pretty much by myself and relax.
__________________
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Jim (Ike) Isaac
San Diego CA
Teller of sea stories, fish tales and various other prevarications.
Hello isaac, thanks a lot for the very informational post. Lake Henshaw used to be my favorite place for Crappie too. But it has not been very productive to me this year. I guess it might be becasue of the weather.
I am going to try my luck again tomorrow. Do you think it is still a good time to do so? I normally fish on the shore near the dam. But your post indicated that after the spawn, Crappie will move back to deeper water. So the dam won't be a good place any more?
Thank you in advance for your replies.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
LCS
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimeisaac
Well, crappie are crappie no matter where you fish for them. When they are in the spawn they are up in very shallow water and very aggressive. In the Pre-Spawn period they are in deeper water (deep is relative, in Henshaw 12-15 ft, in Lower Otay 20-25) just outside the spawning area. During this period they are feeding heavily to gain strength for the spawn. If you can find them on the electronics you can tight line them or if they are deep enough you can go with a spider rig. In the Post-Spawn (where I believe we are now) they are back in the deeper water recouperating from the spawn and not in a feeding mood.
Real soon now down here in San Diego (Lower Otay, San Vicente, El Capitan, Hodges, Henshaw) they will be back out on the flats over 20-25 feet of water (16-20 at Henshaw) chasing shad. This is when the long line trolling really pays dividends because they are so scattered. It is my favorite time of the year. All the opportunistic guys have given up on them and I can drift over the flats pretty much by myself and relax.
Hello isaac, thanks a lot for the very informational post. Lake Henshaw used to be my favorite place for Crappie too. But it has not been very productive to me this year. I guess it might be becasue of the weather.
I am going to try my luck again tomorrow. Do you think it is still a good time to do so? I normally fish on the shore near the dam. But your post indicated that after the spawn, Crappie will move back to deeper water. So the dam won't be a good place any more?
Thank you in advance for your replies.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
LCS
At Henshaw, the water 40ft off the bank from the boat launch to the dam is the deepest part of the lake. Good Luck!
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Jim (Ike) Isaac
San Diego CA
Teller of sea stories, fish tales and various other prevarications.
At Henshaw, the water 40ft off the bank from the boat launch to the dam is the deepest part of the lake. Good Luck!
Thanks, Mr. Isaac.
I went there that weekend but no luck with crappie. I asked the guys at the tackle store. It seems this year was not good for crappie fishing at late henshaw because of the weather. So I think I will wait until next spring.
Before that, I think I might give Lake Hodges and El Captain a try because ithey are closer to my place. Do you have any suggestions? The weather is getting warmer, probably fishing off the shore will not be a good idea at this time of the year?
Again, thanks a lot for your advices. Hope you enjoy the time on the water !
Before that, I think I might give Lake Hodges and El Captain a try because ithey are closer to my place. Do you have any suggestions? The weather is getting warmer, probably fishing off the shore will not be a good idea at this time of the year?
I suspect that you would do a lot better at Hodges and El Cap with a boat. But if I HAD to fish from the shore, at Hodges I would fish the stick-ups just west of the I-15 bridge. You can park and walk about 200ft down to the water. Take a long pole and a casting bubble. You need to be able to throw it out there a long ways. A float tube would work well here.
At El Cap, I would try fishing around the Chocolate Arm. (just to the right of the launch ramp.) Again, the further you can cast, the better off you are. Again, a float tube would work well here.
If you rent a boat at El Cap go back into the North Arm. If you see folks drifting accross the flats, get in line and drift with a small crappie jig about 40-50 feet behind the boat. If other folks are catching them and you are not, you are not at the correct depth. Ask folks how much line they have out. If nobody wants to talk, remember crappie look up, not down so try less line in the water. This is a time when a 2-pole license helps so you can experiment with different distances from the boat.
If nobody is catching them on the drift, go all the way to the back of the North Arm and jig around the submerged timber.
I recommend you read the forums on sdfish.com to keep abreast of the local news. Pay attention to what Roy Justice and Str8slabaronies (formerly Roy_M) have to say.
Good luck!
__________________
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Jim (Ike) Isaac
San Diego CA
Teller of sea stories, fish tales and various other prevarications.
I suspect that you would do a lot better at Hodges and El Cap with a boat. But if I HAD to fish from the shore, at Hodges I would fish the stick-ups just west of the I-15 bridge. You can park and walk about 200ft down to the water. Take a long pole and a casting bubble. You need to be able to throw it out there a long ways. A float tube would work well here.
At El Cap, I would try fishing around the Chocolate Arm. (just to the right of the launch ramp.) Again, the further you can cast, the better off you are. Again, a float tube would work well here.
If you rent a boat at El Cap go back into the North Arm. If you see folks drifting accross the flats, get in line and drift with a small crappie jig about 40-50 feet behind the boat. If other folks are catching them and you are not, you are not at the correct depth. Ask folks how much line they have out. If nobody wants to talk, remember crappie look up, not down so try less line in the water. This is a time when a 2-pole license helps so you can experiment with different distances from the boat.
If nobody is catching them on the drift, go all the way to the back of the North Arm and jig around the submerged timber.
I recommend you read the forums on sdfish.com to keep abreast of the local news. Pay attention to what Roy Justice and Str8slabaronies (formerly Roy_M) have to say.
Good luck!
Man you know the program! Winter times when me and my friends catch our biggest back here in old TN.
The best advice is get ya a boat like the man said. Fishing like you stated on the flats post spawn was something i learned more about listening this year!! Bacause by them i usually slow by then! But hit it hard from jan. threw the spawn.Deeper the better. Thow reelfoot is mostley shallow14 to 18FT range!
I would love to tube down here but the snakes uor though you got to fight em off! Good luck ya'll RFY
Crappie bite coming on?
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