Advice for Beginner

[EricRamos]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice for crappie fishing in the fall. I've always fished for them in spring off the docks and off friend's boat! Well I just bought myself a boat and a new Fish Finder with side imaging and the works(still getting use to it)! Looking for some advice from some seasonal pro's about crappie in the fall and some tips and tricks I can try to get some slab's in the boat! Thank You Very Much!


~Tight Lines~

[deathb4disco]

You're asking a very broad question (which may be the reason no one has replied.)

What I would tell you to do is very different than what someone who spider rigs would tell you to do. So, how do you plan to fish? Cast jigs? Spider rig? Vertical jig? Long line? All of the above? There are loads of threads in the archives on each one.

The first step in catching fish is finding them in the first place. So:

1) Pick one lake and learn it like the back of your hand. Buy a good topo map and use it with your electronics.

2) Hook up with another CDC member who knows the lake or spend a day with a good guide and pick his brain.

[EricRamos]

Thanks for Replying and Info deathb4disco! sorry for being so broad new to this whole thing! Mostly would be jig fishing though spider rig could be a possibly. Mostly wanting to get some info on what crappie tend to do in the fall! I do pretty good on my local lake in the spring but not sure if crappie do the same type of thing in the fall or if they stay deep? Never have tried crappie fishing in the fall but since I now have a boat I'm wanting to get after them lol Thank you again!

[deathb4disco]

I would definitely take a look at the fall issues of Crappie Online. You can read all the 2015 and 2016 issues here:

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...line-magazine/

[CrappiePappy]

I'll give you a suggestion that might help you on your quest :

Post your questions in the Tenn state forum that has the lake(s) you intend to fish. The state defines itself in three sections (E/Middle/W) and so does the forum. West & Middle have separate sub-forums & East Tenn is the main forum. You might also see recent reports from your lake, or from other lakes in your area, or lakes similar to yours.
Attending some of the get together events, or even some of the tourneys on the lakes in your area, might help get you jump-started. Some events even offer seminars on using/interpreting electronics, setting up your boat for various methods, and such. And some members may want to "hook up" with you and show you around, offer you a seat in their boat for some "tips/tricks" trips, or offer to help pay expenses for a trip with you (&/or give you guidance in exchange for a "no charge" trip in your boat).

That being said .. I've only fished lakes in East Tenn, and Watts Bar is the only one I've fished in recent years. The last couple of Fall trips to WB I've only found any concentration of Crappie to be in deep water (20-30fow) at the end branches of fallen trees. Few if any were taken from under or around deep water docks. 99% of those fish were Black Crappie. It's my belief that the majority of White Crappie are still out on channel drops & brush piles in more open water areas.

[Dave and Lynn]

What lake are you fishing?

[EricRamos]

Thank you deathb4disco will definitely read them!

Thank you crappiepappy will definitely look into them forums and events in my local area

Dave and Lynn I fish woods Reservoir a lot!! Also Tim's ford and Normandy

[doggone]

I watch guys in the fall sometimes fish to far back in coves and creek arms,dipping into laydown trees and stumps and working over traditional spawning banks.Though they may catch some fish....this is not where the majority of fish are going to be 90 percent of the time. They will be on main lake points,secondary points in creek arms,main lake bank with structure,and smaller coves that face the main lake body with structure,humps on the main lake body with structure.Typically always near are on...a bottom gradient change of depth. If the lake has grass beds you have to consider them along with the wood.Because at times the grass will have most of the fish.If no grass then you just fish around or near stump fields,standing timber,brush etc on those changing bottom contours ... also can fish under shad schools you mark around those same areas.

Read a little about the difference in a highland,lowland,and flat land impoundment or reservoir. Each one fishes a little different and having a basic understanding of the type of body of water your fishing makes a huge difference. And always remember most of the fish ....and especially most of the good fish....are in a small portion of all that water. Your day can make or break on finding that special spot or spots no bigger in size than the typical backyard swimming pool ...or even smaller.

[Dave and Lynn]

Also pm sent.

[ShilohRed]

Would make new fishermen's life so much easier. If we had something that would show what sections of say a lake like your fishing. Like Tim's Ford, or some other lake. Spring, summer, fall and Winter time spots. I know there's a lot of difference between Tim's Ford and say Pickwick. Or ReelFoot lake and Bull Shoals.

Take my trip Tuesday to Pickwick. Using the Side scan and lake maps. And a report on a website that shows people were catching a few crappie. Where Yellow creek. Depth 15 to 20ft. I went over a lot of water dragging 24 baits staggered from 12f to 18ft. Fished creek channels that showed big schools of bait fish. Lots of fish below and around that bait fish. Fished crappie beds in that depth, showed fish on them. How many crappie did I catch?? Not a one, did not see a crappie. I did catch a largemouth bass and a yellow bass. And that's hit. Fished 7 hours without a fish.
Do I know a lot on where to find and catch crappie this time of year? NO I don't most trips I go out and try to put something together. More times then not it does not work out. But I keep thinking even I have to luck on on a few. Can I catch fish? Would have to say yes, when I'm where the fish are. There hitting what I have to offer. I can and do catch fish.
Fall time for me is not good. To start off I have no ideal how to put a pattern together. Where others know to try this and if it does not work. Try this or they know at this time of year. The fish are at say 12 to 18 ft on secondary points. Or hanging out on the outside bends. That makes those people better at find the crappie. Thus being able to catch them.

For me I can and have caught big limits of slab crappie in August on Pickwick. Fishing in 30ft of water 15ft deep. Spider rigging the same as most are fishing on Reel Foot lake in Dec. But for me that's it. But will not give up and trying to learn all I can on crappie and how they react to each season. How and where they should be at this time of year. Guy I know comes south in the spring and fall. He does not fish the way all the locals fish. Hes out there fishing like he does back home. Yes hes Walleye fishing for Crappie. Fishing 40 ft deep or better, fishing 1ft to 2 ft drops. And this guy brings in stringers of crappie that everyone of us would love to catch.

So just saying I for one wish there was a place where we could compile info on season per season. Where to start out and what to look for. Know its all on crappie.com. But man it takes months of reading to just touch the surface on one subject..
The deal that was done by Jeff White on pulling crankbaits. Now that would help out anyone. Do the same thing on different ways to fish and how to fish it. And even a Dumb guy like me may find fish. And even catch fish.
Pete