If I Had To Catch A Crappie To Save My Life, I’d be a Corpse

[Mr Honky]

I started focusing on crappie about 6 months ago. In those 6 months, I’ve caught 15 of them. 9 of the 15 were caught on the same day about 5 weeks ago.

I go out at least one day per week with minnows and come up empty handed nearly every time. I’ve been fishing bridge piling and standing timber, in water 20 to 40 feet deep.

I hate to be a whiner, but this has become demoralizing. Why won’t they bite? What the heck am I doing wrong?

[CrappiePappy]

You may not be doing anything "wrong" ... just doing it in the "wrong" place.

There aren't a whole lot of promising reports from our lakes, either. But, one lake where they are being caught, they're being caught by Pushing jigs & Long Line Trolling jigs on the deep end of flats & along the channel edge in 20-25fow. (I believe the water temp there is currently in the low to mid 80's) The thermocline there is around the 22ft depth range (taken at the dam). They're not schooled up, but scattered & staying in range of the schools of Shad in those areas. For us here in KY, that's a pretty much normal late Summer pattern. Trolling cranks would also work, but the guide buddy of mine that posted those reports doesn't troll cranks. He normally Spider Rigs when taking clients out, but has gone to Pushing/Longlining in the last couple of weeks. (probably to cover more water, more quickly, since the fish are scattered right now).
Another buddy of mine, that fishes that same lake, would normally be Pushing cranks right now ... but, since he got a Livescope, he's mostly been pitching jigs to brushpiles/submerged trees. He hasn't been in awhile, so I have no reports from him to share. But, when I asked him "where/how" a week or so ago ... he told me to do the same thing my guide buddy is doing now.

[Blackjeepjk]

Dog days has been particularly tuff for me this year not catching a limit the entire time. Today I was finally able to catch a good mess.
I typically only get to fish 1 day per week. I go when I can even though that 1 day per week may not be the best condition day.
As pappy stated, today they were all in 22-25 fow and scattered. I pushed jigs and minnows with the minnows out performing jigs 4 to 1.
It should only get better as temps cool.


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[Blackjeepjk]

Mr Honky - pm sent


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[Ketchn]

its my opinion that you might want to explore other spots sometimes .
i hit 5 or 6 different lakes in my area in about 2 weeks time typically .
some spots will be great this visit and next visit not so much .
many a days i only ketch 1 or 2 and leave scratching my head why the day before was on fire and the next day almost nothing .
one thing for certain , most of the time when you find them really cooperative in a certain spot
it wont be extended lengths of time .

[Ketchn]

and BTW ,if its legal in your state and you can clearly see a herd of them NOT biting
...crush about 3 or 4 minnows into a fine mush and let it fall down on them .
I dont chum these days but to be sure crappie will fall for it bigtime .
and try cutting a fresh minnow in half on the next drop .
fresh cut minnows are flat out DEADLY

[Mr Honky]

I read the AGFC fishing report, and was relieved to discover that even the guides are struggling right now in my area. Hopefully I can figure these fish out soon; I’m hungry. Thanks for the words of wisdom.

[Mr Honky]

There’s 3 lakes I frequent. Two of them have been a waste of time so far. I also move to different areas within the lakes. I’ve even dropped my own brush piles, but have caught only bluegill on them.

[Gone Fishin']

I struggle when the summer heats up too. I will upgrade electronics to help find more fishing spots and structure next year. And thanks to a new to me boat, hopefully spend more time on the water which should help a lot too. Keep after 'em!

[Jamesdean]

This has been a kooky summer for me for sure. Last year this time it was still in the high 80 and int the 90's. Last week and the last couple days we had it barely break into the 70's. I went yesterday to a bridge on a lake I visit, ( fishing from the bridge), I worked hard for one crappie. after a stretch of no bits I pulled a trick. I have an old fishfinder, a garmin fishfinder 250, and a 5 ah 12v battery. It's on a 8' piece of pvc pipe, and I checked several places along that bridge. the fish were holding in 16' of water with the depth ranging from 18' to 24' deep. But they developed lock jaw...I tried 20 different combinations of jigs over an hour and a half. I used crappie nibbles, and both slab sauces, regular and garlic, and not even a nibble, nothing. Some days, they just don't want what you have to offer. Stay after it, and they'll turn on ...

I must add the water is 8' down from the top of the rail on the bridge, since the poll being 8' long...