Thread: What the crappie are eating

We always like to look at the gut contents of the fish that we catch and I thought that some of you might be interested in what we've been finding. Lately they have been slap full of Hexagenia mayfly larvae. I put a picture here of what they look like. Sometimes it comes in handy to have an aquatic entomologist around!:D

the mayfly larvae swim before they fly..cool lerndedid something there..never thought about it. Just love fishing when they are on the trees

hmmmmmmmmm you go buglady

Pretty neat find Ladybug. I'd just had figured they were always full of shad. Hmm.......maybe I better start checking a few from time to time.

now how bout that! thankyou for that info.that is why crappie.com members are the best.
hmmm now then a motor oil colored jig or bug then should catch a few then huh?
uhoh,you jig makers better be ready!!

Intderesting...what lake did you find this if I may ask?....I just assumed shad , there primary diet... I learn something new every day

looks kinda like a shrimp dont it?

Originally Posted by manta1

now how bout that! thankyou for that info.that is why crappie.com members are the best.
hmmm now then a motor oil colored jig or bug then should catch a few then huh?
uhoh,you jig makers better be ready!!

I'm ready man, got some colors that look close to that.

slabchaseroco. - this was in fish from Lake Oconee

Also, these mayflies are known as burrowing mayflies because they burrow down into the bottom and often have just the back end of the body sticking out with those really feathery gills filtering the water. I would think that if you wanted to tie something to imitate it you would want to incorporate that.

Originally Posted by gabowman

Pretty neat find Ladybug. I'd just had figured they were always full of shad. Hmm.......maybe I better start checking a few from time to time.

Might be a good idea. Maybe we could come up with some better catch's at night!