Here on Nimrod the heat takes it's toll on fish and fishermen. The surface water temps go into the 90's and as everyone knows hot water holds less oxygen. This causes the fish to shallow up looking for more oxygen. They like to stay deep enough to find cooler water but shallow where the oxygen content is higher . The bait fish (here mostly Shad) feed shallow or on the surface as plankton type growth is there. I have been told at times Crappie feed on it as well.
Even though I'm not a troller or spider rigger these days , you do what you have to do . When the Crappie suspend my tactics change. Normally they go out in the bays on creek channels and main river to suspend. Now with our drawawdown this summer they have less places to suspend. I take a jig pole with a heavy 1/8 oz jig and use one in each hand. I watch my depth finder and slowly bump along till I see fish on the screen. Once I find fish say in 7 to 9' of water I try to hold that depth and move real slow. You could use crankbaits, minnows or go full blown and use a spider rig with a dozen poles. I perfer to feel that thump and man those suspended Crappie feeding on Shad usually thump my big jigs in the hot water. With a limit of 20 Crappie it does'nt take long once you locate them. Also if your catching small fish move the bigger ones are usually schooled up together not with the little guys.
Thing to remember this method is good for jiggers like me cause the fish move off normal structure at times. Also you will catch a bonus from time to time. I use bucks jiggin poles/ zebco reels with 8lb test floracarbon line. The Catfish , Gar, Bass, and everything else is usually suspended with the Crappie. I've heard some folks say look at the Gar rolling , we need to move . Wrong that can be a good sign just like birds at times. The Gar are feeding on the baitfish and small Crappie.
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