Thread: New to Crappie fishing

Hello Everyone
I'm new to the Memphis area, and new to crappie fishing. I've been an avid bass fisherman my entire life. I recently purchased a 14ft jon boat, with a 15hp motor to do a little fishing. I feel like I've got my boat rigged up pretty good. It has a life well, 2 swivel seats, and trolling motor. I've lived in memphis now for 2 years after moving from south mississippi. I would like some advice on locating crappie. I've fished for crappie when I was a kid with my dad, but was never really taught what to look for, and how to fish for crappie. I've found several public lakes in the memphis area, but haven't had any success in crappie fishing. I would like to know some good lakes to try. I'd prefer to stay in Tennessee, just because the cost of travel, and the cost of out of state fishing license is so high. I've been told that there is some good crappie fishing in cold creek up in Lauderdale county. I've been bream fishing up there this summer, and enjoyed it, but would like to try for crappie. I don't know if anyone here has had any success there, or where to try, etc. I'm up for fishing pretty much anywhere in West Tennessee. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

reelfoot or ky lake

Welcome to the forum, you've come to the right place. Your boat sounds adequate, but it lacks a very important piece of gear. A good depth /fish finder. A humminbird 565(about $200) is a good one with a wider cone than most other in that class and cheaper (60 degrees vs 20). Equipment and jigs and such will all come around if you just read lots of these postings. Good luck and tight lines.

Your closer to Arkabutla, but reelfoot Lake in NW Tennessee is prime real estate for crappie. Mississippi lakes have bigger crappie on average but our Lake is one of the best there is. Your in a good area for crappie though! Shoot me a PM and i will be glad to have you come up here to Reelfoot and take you fishing, help you rig up your boat for spider rigging (slow trolling) and give you any tips or help you need. Beware, crapie fishing is much mroe fun than bass fishing and much more addictive!

Careful what you say on here West Tennessee. This is the Tennessee forum LOL. I do agree though. There are some monster crappie in the N. Miss. area just not Arkabutla. I caught the last 6 fish on my last trip. No need to fish anymore!

NewCrappie, welcome to the site. Just joking, come on out to arkabutla (45 minutes from Cordova) sometime and I'll try to show you around. You may want to get set up for spider trolling, but this time of year you will not need. they should be heading shallow in the cover. A long jig rod with light line and light jig heads should do just fine. There is plenty of bait shops around the area and some offer good knowledge of the lake.

To get there:
Take I 55 south to I 69 west, stay on 69 to 301 highway head south, stay on 301 (stop at outfitters for bait) till road ends head east into park. I usually launch from Bayou Point, but with a jon you should be able to launch right to the left of the dam. Just follow signs to Dub Patton.

Get back in those creeks and jig till your heart desires. Go to BPS and get you some chartreuse, black/chtrs, and pink/white bodies and jig heads. Maybe get you some crappie nibbles to tip jig or even some minnows. Also, get you some floats for when they get spooky. Have fun!

See ya there!

gonna take me fishing in the shallows at Butla jeepster?

If so, im on my way!

Fish are still not in the shallows yet. Caught them in the creeks 6-8' range last weekend. Should be just right come up on this weekend with this temp drop. Although, fishing Butla can be a little on the strange side. These fish live by no rule book. Point being, temps were in the low 60's and they still weren't moved in. I will probably be on call for work this weekend so I might not get to fish, but if there is a chance I will be there.

Welcome to the board. If you're after the crappie, you have found the right place. I'm looking for a little set up like your so I can get back into some "off' the beaten path" places around here. There are alot of lakes over your way and I am confident most of them probably hold a good population of crappie. The suggestions about getting rigged up to troll is a good one. You don't have to go out and break the bank either. I have heard good things about silstar rods from monkscrappie.com. The 12 ft. poles are $13.00 dollars I believe. Get you one 4 rod holder to start out and your set. You can get your holder from Grizzly Jig on the cheap...$30.00 or so. You can have a 4 rod set up for just under $100.00.

The suggestion about a depthfinder is a good one. I would also recommend that you look at the Eagle 480. Cabelas has it for $200.00 and their is a thread on the main board about this unit. I have never personally had one but they say it works very good.

That is a good economical way to break into trolling. If you need any more help on techniques or whatever just let us know as we enjoy talking "crappie".



The Hound

NC this equipment will also be needed if you plan to fish cold creek,catchers mask with helmet,chest protector and shin guards to shield you from the asian carp.I agree with WTC you are to close to butla to drive to far north.

Five-O when u heading back to the Foot.

I have a new boat, you will have to re-identify me.