Crappie fishing for 20+ years, Never caught a Crappie. Why?

[quikcarl61]

I'm the other guy, I have fished with people like you that couldn't buy a bite.
In every case if I baited their hook they caught fish

When Berkley first released Fish Formula spray they claimed it neutralized L-Serine, an amino acid that fish hate.
Some people have very high levels. Fish can detect it at 1 part in 10 billion

Try some the fish attractant sprays

This was going to be my answer also, fish are highly sensitive to scent, I like algenco would recommend using spray on scents or even crappie nibbles on your jigs.i have also in the past used some of the scent killing soaps and this seems to help. Good luck and continue experimenting until you find what works for you.

[hdhntr]

have a friend who has the expensive boat, big name rods and reels, even hooks but doesn't catch fish right next to me or 1 to my 10. even fishing same pads he will be in one, move it and I will dip in and catch one immediately. It's touch, feeling the thump. Heck I am a terrific tightliner especially wading in the brush but on my home lake the locals who all fish off bank with bobbers to brush they have planted laugh at how I can't detect a bite when their is a chop on the water while they reel in limits of big crappie. Just not my thing, don't see the bite at all. Then I go to the docks and catch ton of crappie.

Try long lining, where you have the long poles on either side of your boat, then the bite is obvious when your rod tips in it's holder or when you hold two rods at once with trailing rigs, those are foolproof for sure. Look at Slab's post on his rigging, it works as I fished with him few weeks back and we did well with them.

Do what one suggested, go to spring camp with other CDC members, they will take you out and you will catch fish.

[howl]

Long lining is pretty fool proof where it is an appropriate technique. Shoot, you even have to be careful to not drown the little ones they catch so easily.

[Yak Fish]

I used to work in a tackle shop and on my days off I'd guide on some of the local lakes here in central North Carolina. I had a few clients who were the same way about a failure to catch. I'd move them to the front of the boat and hand them the rod I was using and they wouldn't get bit. I'd pick up the rod the client had been using and almost couldn't keep the fish off the hook. It is a tough thing when you are supposed to be providing them with an enjoyable, successful outing, but the fish don't want to cooperate for whatever reason. One guy even stopped payment on a check he payed me with, even though I spent my time, food, tackle, fuel, and effort to put him on fish. He almost wouldn't talk to me by the end of the trip, like somehow it was my fault that I was wearing them out from the back of the boat and he wasn't getting bit.

I've got a witness on fish not biting a hook that was baited by a specific person and the other guy slaying them. Get yourself some thin latex or vinyl gloves that won't transfer your scent to the lure/bait. It can make a big difference. If there's no negative scent for them to react to, there's no reason the fish shouldn't bite. Good luck & have fun.

Jim

[deathb4disco]

I can sit next to a buddy using same rig, same jig, same line, same hat, same glasses and He will catch his limit and I sit and watch. This has happened for 20+ years. XXXl I live 20 miles from Weiss Lake In Alabama and I cant catch a XXXX crappie to save my life. I was in the Coast Guard and had a small Tracker boat and I never caught a fish off it in Alabama, I can sit on a dock or I can get in a canoe and paddle to middle of a pond and I will never catch a fish.

Are you sure your name isn't Job?

[Ketchn]

there is a "touch" to crappie that some folks don't quite have , a friend or 2 and I discuss this a bit from time to time. crappie in many cases are in fact biting peoples baits and they don't know it , we see this frequently and I understand totally the dilemma . this all said you come to Texas sometime and I PROMISE I will help you ketch some .
and or go pitch a float with a jig about a foot under it when the spawn starts in your area and just reel extra slowly close to the bank in a parallel to the shore presentation . they are rather aggressive in the spring for sure and its much easier to detect bites for sure .

[MidMsAngler]

I second the idea of wearing some gloves or using a scent to cover up your own. You may be one of the few people who produce more chemicals on your hands that signal a red flag to the feeshes. Though rare, it does happen.


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[scrat]

I have heard that you can pick up one of the fish that has been caught and rub it all over your hands and it will help to camouflage your human scent also.

[hdhntr]

That's why I love this site! everyone is ready to jump in and help a brother out who is having an issue with whatever! way to go CDC!

Go to your spring camp, what is guaranteed is there are great members there who will take you out to catch fish but more important you will have a wonderful time.

[Ketchn]

and I might also suggest a bottle of some sort of scent to spray on the jig or maybe use crappie nibbles ....scent makes a big difference in many cases
you might want to try the Fle Fly lure flavor in the bubblegum scent and no one will get offended when you leave the water as well .....
and all kidding aside it does work ....got me a new bottle 2 weeks ago I did ...when I use my old boat I apply it to my hands after I leave the ramp ....crappie are for sure scent sensitive fish and frequently "sniff" baits to make up them lil crappie minds about is it food or not