Thanks Thanks:  0
HaHa HaHa:  0
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: Where to start. Am I doing something wrong?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    59
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Where to start. Am I doing something wrong?


    I went out early the other morning to lake Ray Roberts in North Texas. Water temp showed 84.5F at 6am. I was fishing bridge pillars and flooded timber. 5-10mph winds fishing from a kayak was tough to stay in place. I caught 3 fish (not including a small channel cat and bluegill). I was fishing a tandem jig lowering it down next to the standing trees and casting it along bridge pilings. I got a ton of tiny *tap tap* bites on the submerged trees, but was barely able to land any fish (compared to the number of bites I was getting). The fish seemed to hit between 8-12 feet down in 20 ft of water.

    Curious to know what y'all thought. Am I too late on the hookset or maybe the fish were just too small? I'll hopefully get out on the water soon and try again. Unfortunately it's tough fishing a lot of water in a kayak so I'm also having trouble figuring out where to look for fish this time of year with the warm water. Different boat ramps have different structure nearby (bridges at some, flooded timber at others, and submerged brush piles at another.) Any insight is greatly appreciated on techniques and locations to start looking.


    I was happy about this guy. 13.5" and pretty thick bodied. Where to start. Am I doing something wrong?Name:  IMG_20190714_141144.jpg
Views: 780
Size:  52.0 KBName:  IMG_20190714_141137.jpg
Views: 726
Size:  58.6 KB

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
    Likes Redge, svh LIKED above post

  2. #2
    Cray's Avatar
    Cray is offline Crappie.com 2019 Man of Year, Supermod & Moderator of the Mechanics Forum * Crappie.com Supporter
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Byhalia,Mississippi
    Posts
    17,388
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    When they biting like that try down sizing your jig. Also the addition of some slab sauce or a nibble will make all the difference.
    Proud Member of Team Geezer
    Charlie Weaver USN/ENC 1965-1979



    Likes rippyro LIKED above post

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    59
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Cray View Post
    When they biting like that try down sizing your jig. Also the addition of some slab sauce or a nibble will make all the difference.
    I ordered some slab sauce a couple of days ago wondering if they were grabbing it and spitting it back out instantly. I'll try it out when it comes in. I tried injecting some tubes with crappie nibbles (using a syringe works great) but it didn't seem to make a whole lot of difference. I caught two on the crappie nibble tube and the big one on a white curly tail grub. Unfortunately I was using the smallest jig I own. It was a 1/32 jig with a sickle hook. My local Bass pro, academy, and field and stream don't have anything smaller. I'd have to order them online.

    Another thought I had was too light of a jig. It was pretty windy and the wind would put a bow the line some due to the double 1/32 jigs. I wonder if I had a heavier jig if it would help the line stay tight to detect bites better?

    Thanks for the response!

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Redge is offline Crappie.com Legend - 2017 Man Of The Year
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    OK
    Posts
    27,548
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Where to start. Am I doing something wrong?

    Just watch that bow in the line, if it jumps, set the hook!


    Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
    Proud Member of Team Geezer!
    Likes rippyro LIKED above post

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Alcoa, Tennessee
    Posts
    8,938
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    “Tap tap” is usually indicative of a small bluegill to me.
    I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
    Likes rippyro LIKED above post

  6. #6
    CrappiePappy's Avatar
    CrappiePappy is online now Super Moderator - 2013 Man Of The Year * Crappie.com Supporter
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Lexington, KY
    Posts
    23,501
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    If the bites are coming at less than 15ft deep, and the fish are relating to vertical cover, I'd use this technique : Crappie Pappy Article

    And from my experiences, Crappie will tend to be on the "shady side" of this cover.
    Likes Don Fischer LIKED above post

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    59
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ET Fish View Post
    “Tap tap” is usually indicative of a small bluegill to me.
    That was a thought as well. I was just too stubborn to admit it lol I caught the crappie in the same spot as the "tap tap" bites, but maybe they were just hanging around the same tree. Where to start. Am I doing something wrong?

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    59
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by CrappiePappy View Post
    If the bites are coming at less than 15ft deep, and the fish are relating to vertical cover, I'd use this technique : Crappie Pappy Article

    And from my experiences, Crappie will tend to be on the "shady side" of this cover.
    Very well written. Thank you. I was almost doing the opposite out there trying to figure them out. I would start at 6 feet and very slowly lower jig in the water. If I didn't get any bites I would strip another foot of line off and lower it further. I would continue that process until I thought I was finding the fish. I would start to get a consistent small *tap tap* but no fish when attempting to set the hook. Never tried reeling up though them though. I'll give it a shot next time

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Alcoa, Tennessee
    Posts
    8,938
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rippyro View Post
    That was a thought as well. I was just too stubborn to admit it lol I caught the crappie in the same spot as the "tap tap" bites, but maybe they were just hanging around the same tree. Where to start. Am I doing something wrong?

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
    I use a #2 hook almost exclusively, so it is rare that I catch a small bluegill. Often in the tap-tap bites, I find my jig skirt pulled down. In my experience, that ain’t crappie.
    I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
    Likes rippyro LIKED above post

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    59
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ET Fish View Post
    I use a #2 hook almost exclusively, so it is rare that I catch a small bluegill. Often in the tap-tap bites, I find my jig skirt pulled down. In my experience, that ain’t crappie.
    You were 100% right. I've been out quite a bit since then and can now pretty well distinguish the difference in the bites (for the most part) lol bluegill have seemed to be a more erratic fast tap tap while the crappie bites are *thump* haha at least that's the best I can describe it.

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
    Likes ET Fish LIKED above post

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

BACK TO TOP