Thread: Scattering Crappie Question

Went crappie fishing this last weekend (11/7/09) at Chase SFL from early afternoon to dark. Hit three different brush piles throughout the day and consistently caught fish from 10-15feet deep catching about 50 fish between my wife and I. About half an hour from dusk (~5pm) the catching slowed down and fewer fish showed up on the depth finder and seemed to be a lot more scattered out. We caught a couple more fish some in 7 ft of water and some in 15ft of water. I’ve experienced this scattering of crappie schools at this lake and other state lakes throughout the year right at dusk. My theory is that the crappie go on their daily feeding binge and scatter out and / or go shallow looking for food. Has anyone else experience this? Is this a common occurrence for crappie schools at dusk? How can you deal with this, start fan casting jigs to nearby shallow structure / open water or just stick to jigging and keep moving around?

Thanks,
Tim

Welcome Tim.

As for your question...I am no help. Happened to me a month ago at Hillsdale. Your theory could be right, but they may be feeding on shad in the area when you are catching them. I assume they are following the bait where ever it goes, but where that is...well that is why it is fishing I guess. Maybe someone else has a better idea.

welcome to the board if it is dusk it is time to be loaded on the trailer

Any lights around? The lights will attract the baitfish and the crappie will move to it if they know the food will be there. I had this happen all the time at a small marina cove off the Mississippi River. There were brushpiles scattered about this cove and fish would be around them until darkness fell. Then the fish would go directly to the light sources close to the water.

I don't know what's the best solution either. I don't know that I've ever really experienced that phenomenon. Following the bait makes sense to me though.

I guess I usually quit fishing at dinner time.

No, there were no dock lights or boat ramp lamps nearby. One thing I could try would be to drop a light stick or floating light on water and see it that would draw the fish in.

Originally Posted by fishingtim

No, there were no dock lights or boat ramp lamps nearby. One thing I could try would be to drop a light stick or floating light on water and see it that would draw the fish in.

I'm betting that may help. Good luck.