Thread: Hello All

Hello all, I am new to the forum and crappie fishing. I grew up in the Gainesville area and now live in Green Cove Springs. I look forward to learning a thing or two. I am going to attempt a trip on Saturday to the Black Creek area, any tips? Thanks

Welcome from Ga.

Welcome from Illinois!

Welcome to the boards jboat. I'm not far from you, just north of St. Augustine across the coastal highway. Started crappie fishing last winter myself just about this time. Didn't know a thing about it and what I have learned came from the folks on these boards so I would say you have found a good resource. Haven't fished Black creek myself but I think a couple folks here do get there so maybe they will see this and chime in. From what I'm reading the cold weather has driven the crappie back into deep water at most locations so that's where I would begin looking. Good luck and let us know how you do.

Welcome from Indiana

Welcome from Mississippi.

Welcome aboard from Tennessee...Lot's of good people on C.C.and they are generally very helpful.

Thanks for all the warm welcomes. It is good to be here. I cant wait to hook into my first crappie, hopefully this weekend :D.

Outnumbered I have been lerking around since I found this site last night thats what I am seeing also. With that in mind and after talking to a local bait shop guy the game plan for this weekend is to try and find structure in the 10-12 ft range without a depth/fish finder. Once there I hope to drop some live minnows and some plastics on jig heads. I have probably spent more time planning this trip then I have on any other trip. I think I may like this crappie fishing thing.

On another note do any of you fish the lilly pads as a form of structure? If so how do you work it? I have seen my grandfather use a stick to bust holes in the pads and then use grass shrimp for bream. Will the same concept work for crappie?

Thanks again for all the replies.

Originally Posted by jboat

...On another note do any of you fish the lilly pads as a form of structure? If so how do you work it? I have seen my grandfather use a stick to bust holes in the pads and then use grass shrimp for bream. Will the same concept work for crappie?

Thanks again for all the replies.

Hi jboat, still learning this myself, but here goes. This time of year the crappie will spawn... but all the conditions have to be right! Water temp is crucial to this with some continued temp of around low 60's* being key. When they spawn they move to the shores in the brush and under the pads. So yes, under the pads is good when they move back, and grass shrimp is a very popular bait for crappie in Florida when you can get it... along with minnows and plastic jigs. They will all work so try a variety to see what they want on a particular day. There are many well written articles on the main page of crappie.com worth reading, and also here is a good website: MidWest Crappie TV Show and Guide Service

which has a library of TV shows that will show you various crappie fishing techniques used by the pros. Also there are some on Youtube. Just type in a key word or two... Good luck

I personally believe that right now its not what the water temperature is but which direction it's moving. With the nights cooling the temps down more than the days can warm them up, it makes for less than desirable conditions. A couple weeks ago when the water temps were in the high 50's and moving up I was catching fish. When the water temps hit 65-66 the males were starting to fan. Then came the cold nights, the water temps started cooling, maybe only a degree or two a day, but that was enough to move them deeper or suspend them. I watch the night time temps for an indication they are higher than the water temp at any given time.
That is just my opinion........