Thread: What's happened to the Crappie

Up until 3 days ago, I was catching nice Crappie and in abundance. Friday I was out and caught 20'something nice fish. There was an elderly couple out and weren't doing very well (think they had 2 or 3 between them) so I decided to give them mine since I figured i'll just catch more, and they seemed to be very excited I was willing to give up my catch for them.
Then went out again Saturday, caught probably 40 more but only kept 9 for the fryer. But my mid day they turned off and haven't turned back on. Seems they've gotten lock jaw... i've jigged the docks with all the colors I have, and there's prolly 30 different colors in my box, no fish on the docks... tried a cork and jig in the shallows, coves and around what little under water wood and brush I could find... nothing. Heck even the minner fishers out there weren't catching... any idea what's turned them off?
Only thing I can think of is the current weather moving in, but does in coming systems turn fish off days before they hit?

maybe you caught them all?

Originally Posted by DOCK-SHOOTER95

maybe you caught them all?

LOL... I shouldn't say they've COMPLETELY turned off, I have caught a few stragglers here and there over the last few days, apparently they didn't get the crappie memo to quit biting... but they sure aren't biting like they were just a few days ago.
I managed to summon the patience to get out for a short time this morning (caught 3) but this 20-30mph lake effect wind doesn't make fishing easy with jigs, and takes a real patient individual to stick with it.
Hopefully things change for the better in the next few days.

You would think you would be in good graces with the crappie gods for your genosity. I have had a tough time at some of my usual haunts as well. Lot of different variables. fish could have moved on ya, hard to say. Although I think everthing gettin' close, the peek is still yet to come! Go when can!!!

Originally Posted by crappie addict

You would think you would be in good graces with the crappie gods for your genosity. I have had a tough time at some of my usual haunts as well. Lot of different variables. fish could have moved on ya, hard to say. Although I think everthing gettin' close, the peek is still yet to come! Go when can!!!

Yeah i'm hoping the best is yet to come... entire oxbow over here is maybe 6-7 foot deep at the deepest point. So the water should warm up fairly quickly with this 70-80 degree weather. But nothing has been hitting off the banks yet.

if they only have 6 or 7 feet of water in the deepest part, I don't think they will neccesarily hit the banks to spawn.. we caught some this past weekend with bloody tails and fins that were sitting on the bottom in 3 to 4 feet of water ... maybe try a little deeper out.

Where is the oxbow located

Myself and my dad went this past weekend and didn't catch many, but the ones we caught were huge. They were slammed full of eggs, bloody tails and all. Some had spawned out. We caught em in 8-10ft of water fishing about 4-5 ft deep. Google Bobby Phillips article about the spawn. In a nutshell he says most big females only stay on the nest or in the shallows 10 minutes at the most. Just long enough to lay some eggs and then they go back out to the deeper water and the male moves in to protect the eggs. So this is basically saying it's luck for someone to catch a big female in 1-2 foot of water, or just good timing. Goodluck next time out!

Clark

Clark, I did Google for that and didn;t see anything obvious. I would like to read that article though. Can you help? Thanks

Kman, I am not sure but I read an article on Bobby Phillips and Crappie fishing in the Louisiana Sportman Magazine. Feb. or March issure. I will try to look it up for you