Please Help!! I can't catch fish

[Auston22688]

Thanks guys for all the help. I’m not getting to go near as much as I’d like. Between twin 2 year olds and recovering from a liver transplant still, I’m wore out all the time. But I’m going to get out there.

[GreenLine]

OP, post the general area you fish .
If your in any of the southern states, NOW. Is the time to hit the water, the fish are much more active.
Good luck


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[Auston22688]

I mainly fish Lake Eufaula down in south Alabama. I’ve never tried Lake Seminole but I know there’s good fishing. They’re both about an hour from me. I’ve just heard Seminole has a lot of stumps and it’s got me gunshy to go out there

[huntnfishnguy2014]

First and foremost, I have no idea what I'm doing. I've read alot about crappie and know a little about how it's done. Went fishing yesterday and found some fish in open water. I setup to cast out to them and reel it back past them. This is where my problem comes in. The fish were 10-15 feet deep. I'm using 4lb. mono and a 1\16oz jig head with a bobby garland plastic. It was a windy day and the wind kept my line blown out and my jig never would sink. I know I could use a heavier jig head, but am I doing something wrong? What's the biggest jig head you would use? Please help!! I'm tired of going and not being able to catch anything.

Don’t be afraid to size up to 1/8 ounce jigs, ive put plenty of fish in the boat on windy days using 1/8 ounce jigs. I fish mainly Bobby garlands and have got several fish on 1/8 ounce jigs, I prefer 1/16 and sometimes even going as far as 1/64, but mainly 1/16. Wind plays a part in my decision on jig size and weather patterns…example being this morning. We have had a few days of bad weather, so I didn’t anticipate the fish to be very active, and they weren’t. It took about two hours of different colors and using minnows, changing spots, etc., until I finally downsized to 1/32 jig and an itty bitty slab slayer for a more finesse presentation oh and using black and pink for a more finesse(smaller slow sinking bait) presentation. Ended up catching about 25 in the remaining two hours I had to fish and kept 12. Best of luck.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[NIMROD]

You can up size jig weight but in wind drop rod tip down to keep wind from blowing line slowing the fall

[Eagle 1]

Does anyone ever use fluorocarbon for crappie? I was just thinking that being as flouro sinks, it may be a little better to help lighter jigs sink a little better?

Always and the rare exception I use coated fluorocarbon .

[DonF]

I learned to fish for them about three years ago. used mostly a slip bobber and 1/16oz jig. After slaughtering them like that, the guy I was with removed the bobber's and we sent the jigs down farther. Advice you got about the rod tip down is maybe your answer. Myself when I can't find them I go looking and usually find them down around 15'. They I simply drop the jig down to them and works pretty darn good. I don't know that casting and reeling in is that great. Done it that way and definatelly have caught them that way but much better luck sticking closer to shore and weed beds and rocks and slip bobber and ever just casting out a bit and reeling it. Using a slip bobber sometimes I cast out and just nudge the bobber back in. Just a nudge or you pull the jig up. But you know what, even if that haappens and you catch a fish anyway then it worked huh?

[Ketchn]

If you have below 50 water temps , try sitting on top of them and dropping it to them and hold it still in front of their crappie faces

[Jamesdean]

Tricky question.

I've always heard that whenever there's any current, fish are going to face into it. That's why they prefer eddy water or underwater obstacles .... so they can get out of the current & just hide & wait for bait to be washed close to them.

I try and think like a fish that's in a restaurant .... I'm going to pick the table closest to the kitchen door, if it's available.

I Agree, fish will face into the current, usually, but not always behind an obstacle. like rocks, stumps, etc. This is for a couple reasons. one is the current break as mentioned, and another is as an ambush point on food coming down stream. in lakes and ponds that has a current, I.E. water being let out, they will move a bit more any direction...from my observance anyway...

[Spoonminnow]

Lake fishing vs river?
Anchored or not?

No current I'm aware of in a lake - surface or deeper.

Even anchored, the boat must have been bobbing up and down or rocking due to waves and wind combined. If not anchored, constantly working the trolling motor to stay in position while checking the fish finder must of been distracting especially in wind over 15 mph. Definitely not ideal fishing conditions especially in deeper open water.

Suggestions if you absolutely must go on a day like that:
1. braid soaks up water a bit and stays low down deeper with less bow regardless of wind due to its weight. 8# test would allow good lure action yet still be strike-sensitive in wind or calm weather. (BTW 8#=6# in diameter)
2. Cast with the wind, not across it or against it. Line bow kills light strike detection and lure control.
3. 1/16 oz would be my choice along with using plastics with heavier bodies for weight and strike provocation. Even a 1/32 oz jig would work with the following:

Not too keen using curl tails under those conditions that are used more horizontally than vertically. The lure should exhibit a subtle action even with rod held still that rile fish to strike. Fish don't take kindly to the tease of a straight tail flutter or the bobble of a tailless grub for very before deciding enough is enough!
BTW: the Softie Worm on the left can be shortened to 3" and then added to a 1/16 oz. ballhead. The action is incredible!
Crappie Magnets are another option where a pair of thin straight-tails quiver beautifully with no imparted actionl

4. Floats IMO are not worth the effort to keep lures in place at one depth when bobbing up and down like your boat is.
5. Floating markers make sense once fish are found but only as long as the fish stay where you found them. I also use them to mark bottom structure.