Thread: Weiss Lake

Just shoot docks then.Had a cold front move through again the other night which pushed them deeper some. All this spring the temps have been up and down with one cold front after another moving through. The fish are there you just have to find a dock that has them. Going this Sunday to shoot some docks myself.

Thanks for the info.

First, let me start off by saying I am a Crappie virgin. Never caught one in my life. I'm new to Weiss too and am excited to give Crappie fishing a try as I do know they are delicious and put up a great fight on light tackle. I'm trying to get my daughters in to fishing, but the last time we were out, we didn't even get a nibble, which is crushing for young kids interests.

When you say "shooting docks", I assume you mean casting up under and around docks where the fish are relating to the structure there. What are you using to pitch in there? I just loaded up on a three-color grub (twisty tail) multi pack that has 1/8 and 1/16 ounce jig heads. Do I have the right tools to catch these fish? Any color suggestions, there's probably 15 variations in the pack? What about minners under a float cast in and around the docks?

I desparately want to get my three girls hooked and fear going out this weekend and getting skunked again and them losing their patience with the sport. Please provide any (simple/basic/elementary) tips you think will give us a shot at a few fish.

Your help is much appreciated.

Newgene, welcome to the website. Once you get hooked on crappie fishing, you're a "goner." That's all you want to do. Crappie can be really finicky.
There will be days when you don't catch a thing, believe me! But there will be days when the crappie will wear YOU out! About "SHOOTING" docks. It is a method of actually "shooting like a bow and arrow." I learned the method at a BASSPRO crappie seminar. Ken Sturdivant was the instructor.
You need to use open spinning reel and rod. (About a 5 ft. rod is great, with a comparable spinning reel). You can probably type in "shooting docks for crappie" on a search engine (ASK.com or google.com etc) and get some pictures of the method. You use a small jig (1/16 or so) and vary color until something works. It is hard to explain in words how to shoot the jig. You release the bail (leave in release position), place jig between thumb and index finger, line from tip of rod to end of jig should be about 3/4 or so of the way from tip of rod to reel. While pressing line against rod just above reel bail with right hand index finger, pull on the jig until you get a bend in the rod (you experiment with this in your yard) and let go of the jig and the pressure of right index finger at the same time; the jig actually "shoots" out in front like an arrow spent from a bow. It is pretty easy once you practice a few times. You can make some pretty good casts under docks using this method. Once the jig hits the water, let it fall; if fish are under the dock and the color jig is correct, you will feel a light thump when fish hits the jig; wind up slack and hold on! Hope this helps! Good luck with those girls. One thing you might want to do to liven their attitudes about fishing is to hire a guide. Your kids will really enjoy and you and the girls can learn a thing or two.

Thanks Red. I have seen the tactic demonstrated for Bass so I understand what you mean but thank you for the great explanation. I'll give this "shooting" method a try this weekend.

I like the idea of a guide too but $'s tight right now. I hired a striper guide last fall and had a blast while learning a lot!

In murky water such as Weiss, I would think charteuse/white combinations would be the colors of choice. Am I off there? Anybody else have any tips they can part with?

I don't fish over there often, but Blue has usually done well for me when the water is really dingy.

Newgene,
Click on ARTICLES on crappie.com. Article by Bruce Spangler on docks and piers is good! About colors, sometimes just a chartreuse jig is fine; I have had great luck on blue/blace with chartreuse tail.

crohrer,
Check your pm, I sent you some information about our trip last weekend.