How far do crappie "see"?

[Raibeaux]

Hi. Wondering how far a crappie can detect your bait. ie: if you have a shiner at say, 5 feet, how far away both horizontally and vertically can the fish tell it's there?

In other words, if you're fishing at five feet, how far above or below or how far to the sides can it detect?

Guess I'm asking how far "off" can you be from the fish's actual depth and still catch the dude.

Same question, but pertaining to jigs. I would think the scent of the shiner would increase the distance from the shiner, but not sure.

Thanks.
Ray

[CrappiePappy]

Hi. Wondering how far a crappie can detect your bait. ie: if you have a shiner at say, 5 feet, how far away both horizontally and vertically can the fish tell it's there?
In other words, if you're fishing at five feet, how far above or below or how far to the sides can it detect?
Guess I'm asking how far "off" can you be from the fish's actual depth and still catch the dude.
Same question, but pertaining to jigs. I would think the scent of the shiner would increase the distance from the shiner, but not sure.
Thanks.
Ray

but, you can be sure that they can see alot further than you or I could, at the same depth/water clarity :D (probably even with a swim mask on, too :p )
You have to take into account two other factors : smell & their lateral line !! While Crappie are generally considered "sight feeders" ... in dingy/turbid water, these two factors come into play, and may overtake the need for "sight, from any distance". Also, even when they "can" see a bait ... smell and their lateral line still can be +/- factors.

... cp

[DC Crappie Kid]

CP, what do you mean by "lateral line?"

[TreednNC]

nerve endings running in a lateral direction (horizontal) along a fishes' spine. the black spots on a bass, the stripes( not all are on the lateral line) on a striper, irredescent colored line down a crappie. they sense and taste way better than their tongues or noses

[LBM]

CP, what do you mean by "lateral line?"

Check this out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_line

http://www.lookd.com/fish/laterallinesystem.html

http://www.parmly.luc.edu/parmly/lat...phys_anat.html