Thread: crappie won't go down to hit a bait?

Well if the fish are on the bottom already there is no way that they can feed lower. They will strike what they see in front of them. If they only feed on what is above or in front of them is a myth why is it that I cannot just fish on bottom all the time and catch crappie? Why do fishermen ask what depth water the crappie are biting in? Why is it that I can catch crappie at say 3' and not 4' deep at times if this is was a myth? I am just saying that it looks like this old saying that crappie only feed upward is more truth than untruth or everyone needs to just fish on the bottom.

In my experience, the rule that fish don't go down to hit a bait applies primarily to suspended fish. mostly because with their eye placement the cant see the bait when its underneath them. If you are fishing on the bottom, especially dragging a bait, it makes a lot of noise and vibrations on the bottom and the fish feel it rather than see it. Another thing I've learned about fishing is to never say never.

Originally Posted by Crestliner08

I'm of the school that fish are where you find them and that includes the bottom, with regards to crappie. Ice out and late fall, one of our most productive presentations is to slow roll (VERY slow) Roadrunner type jigs along the bottom. I always try to approach fishing without any per-conceived notions.

Another "rule" supposedly says that when you are fishing for crappie and they stop biting, "Slow Down" and when you think you are going too slow, slow down some more. Yet as you can see from some of my posts from 2014, we drifted jigs in high wind with our jigs almost breaking the surface they were moving so fast. And yet, we totally clocked 'em! Go figure!

Do you think they wanted them faster or did the fish move up in the water column?

When they are on the bottom or ver near it, they will eat off the bottom! That is why if I stumble on some on beds near the shore I use a Flame Red/ Black & FL Yellow Body/Hot Orange tail on my little Roadrunners. I also use that color anytime our water is more stained that normal and I do believe they think it's crawfish!

Originally Posted by Crestliner08

I'm of the school that fish are where you find them and that includes the bottom, with regards to crappie. Ice out and late fall, one of our most productive presentations is to slow roll (VERY slow) Roadrunner type jigs along the bottom. I always try to approach fishing without any per-conceived notions.

Another "rule" supposedly says that when you are fishing for crappie and they stop biting, "Slow Down" and when you think you are going too slow, slow down some more. Yet as you can see from some of my posts from 2014, we drifted jigs in high wind with our jigs almost breaking the surface they were moving so fast. And yet, we totally clocked 'em! Go figure!

There have been time I long line trolled a 1/32 Oz Roadrunner in 20' of water and did well on crappie! They will come up and get it!!!

It's been discussed before, about Crappie eating "craws" : http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...crappie-craws/

And yes, I've used plastic craws to catch Black Crappie (1.5") and even caught one on a 4" craw ... and the craw was no where near the bottom. Black Crappie do have a tendency to eat more critters & crustaceans than a White Crappie normally will, but I wouldn't put it past a White Crappie to eat anything it can get in its mouth ,,, if it's hungry enough or guarding a bed.

And while the eyes of Crappie are positioned to see forward & upward ... they will dive down after food, just not very far. They're opportunistic feeders, not slash/dash chasers ... and prefer the stealth approach from underneath their prey, if possible.

... cp

Back in the day, two different times, I went with my Dad and he used minners under a float on the bow. I used small white crawdads under a float on the stern, and we caught about the same amount of crappie both times. The lake we were fishing was a shallow cypress filled lake. I wouldn't hesitate to hook a small live crawdad on to catch a crappie.

Originally Posted by NickD

Do you think they wanted them faster or did the fish move up in the water column?

Not sure! When this presentation is successful for us, we have 1' - 2' whitecaps pumping out (from any direction). I have no idea how fast we drift, but it's pretty darn fast. We also catch bluegill and yellow perch on this presentation as well. Go figure!