Toledo Bend Crappie

[1fishhound1]

Caught em pretty great this year on Toledo. First year we have caught them like this in the summer. WE caught them over piles in about 18 feet in early July this year. They didnt last long but we wiped them out when they were there. What would make them do that?

[skiptomylu]

Really not sure what your question is? What would make them do what? Maybe I am missing something?

[CrappiePappy]

I'm going to go out on a limb & say ... right time, right place, right bait, & right presentation equals success !! Gotta love it when a plan comes together and it works in your favor

Write down all known factors (what, when, where, why, how, on what, weather conditions, water conditions, etc) and try them again next year, when those same conditions occur. You may be able to repeat your success. Crappie are hardwired to behave certain ways, under certain conditions ... via their survival instincts & habitual nature ... so they're prone to repeating those behaviors, when the surrounding conditions are the same (or close to the same).

... cp

[M R Dux]

They didnt last long but we wiped them out when they were there. What would make them do that?

Ever consider fishing pressure? Crappie are no different than bluegills, bass, whatever. There is not an infinite supply and fishing pressure will eventually take its toll if nothing else changes.

[1fishhound1]

Sorry I guess I should have been more specific. We have never caught them that late over those piles. Just wondering what may have kept them up there. It may have just been a luck deal that we found a school out there. Our piles are usually completely done by the end of june and we caught these in the middle of july.

[skiptomylu]

Well we did have somewhat of a cool front in July which is not normal and also again in August. Your right the piles in that depth are usually only good just after the spawn, but I know some other that did well in water not much deeper this year. I suspect the water temps were a little cooler than years past.

[Cmj]

Well we did have somewhat of a cool front in July which is not normal and also again in August. Your right the piles in that depth are usually only good just after the spawn, but I know some other that did well in water not much deeper this year. I suspect the water temps were a little cooler than years past.

X2. We had a real late Spring and Summer here. The fish didn't really settle into their normal Summer pattern until about a month ago. Lots of fish are still being caught in 3-5 fow.

[1fishhound1]

That must have been it. Water staying a little cooler just lengthened the bite.

[skiptomylu]

That would be my guess. I know that I went with a couple guys to show them around my area I think in June and there was still some crappie just off the bank a little in 10 foot of water even though most had left the shallows for the creeks and brush piles.