Thread: trying to locate crappie

Either or, depending on where the fish are holding






From the phone of Crappiegirl1

First off and foremost look for bait, look for something different on bottom contours, look for points and channels, big flats with channels close by, weed lines, brush sunken trees. If I have not fished a lake before I look around a bit for signs of active bait first, then if no sign of that I slow down and look at my graph and make some big circles and figure 8's looking for something different on the bottom fish can relate to. Watch for birds, anything that stands out different.Right now I would be looking in about 3' of water or less and working my way slowly deeper. Summer, early morning same but with deep water close by and work my way deeper. Mostly unless spawning look for Bait first, find bait and yer on em. Thats my advise and it is worth exactly what it cost ya.

I am going to try that. Right now every lake I fish will be new to me as I haven't really fished any lakes before just mainly retention ponds. I just got a fish finder and am still learning how to use it. Thanks for all the advise as I can use as much as possible.

Tons and tons of info on here, especially if you read some of the other States and main forum. Also some great articles on BnM poles website. Also have found some good stuff on the Kentucky Game and Fish website. And ask away on here. Might get a bunch of pm responses if asking about a certain body of water so watch your notifications as well.

Originally Posted by huntinslabs

First off and foremost look for bait, look for something different on bottom contours, look for points and channels, big flats with channels close by, weed lines, brush sunken trees. If I have not fished a lake before I look around a bit for signs of active bait first, then if no sign of that I slow down and look at my graph and make some big circles and figure 8's looking for something different on the bottom fish can relate to. Watch for birds, anything that stands out different.Right now I would be looking in about 3' of water or less and working my way slowly deeper. Summer, early morning same but with deep water close by and work my way deeper. Mostly unless spawning look for Bait first, find bait and yer on em. Thats my advise and it is worth exactly what it cost ya.

have to agree with huntin. Look for deep water close to points, humps flats, Brush. Start shallow and work out. Also work different depths. drop your bait down from 2' to 2' off bottom till you find where they are hanging. Good luck. lots of fun when the poles go down. Lots of work finding the place they will.

agree 100 - 150% with above comments, each & every lake is different down here,
we have shallow lakes, it only takes a matter of inches between catchin a lot or
going over them....... also not a lot of down wood, brush piles etc...........
have grass, reeds, pads, etc................
but again work with us and we'll all we can................either direct or on personal
messages.

Curious, what area are you presently targeting and how long do you plan on staying
in Florida before going back north ?

Trouble finding specks??? Just follow Huntinslabs!

Maybe i could get huntin to go with me to John's lake sometime next week..
I'm ready for remedial training................as so far this week, feel at times to have
lost it ! ! ! !

Jamin limited out today in Manatee, Kenn Hamilton and 2 others limitied out in
Lake Marion over around Dundee area, couple of die hards at Kissimmee caught
in the 10 -15 bracket, some nice keepers..............but things are somewhat strange.

Have thought that maybe the big girls have already layed out and now the 2nd
group in pecking order is gettng ready to come in...................