Thread: Need a little help

I certainly understand your situation. There have been plenty of views of this thread, but no replies. I moved to Florida a few months ago from Oklahoma and have found locating crappie (specks) very difficult and useful information difficult to find. I bought a cheap little fishing boat and have been exploring the area lakes and rivers - Harris chain, Ocklawaha River, St John's River. I usually manage to find 1 or 2, but really have to work for those and never really get into a lot of them like I'm used to in Oklahoma (and Kansas). I assume that finding them here is much different than other places where there is structure in the rivers and lakes - like brush piles, rock ledges, depth variations (more than a foot or two).

I've stopped and talked to every crappie fisherman I see, trying to learn the patterns and techniques. I've heard that people are catching lots of them in a lot of different places - both in the open water, and the lilly pads. I've also heard that the primary spawning month is February.

I have fished Eustis from the fishing pier and managed to catch 1 or 2. I haven't explored it from my boat yet. I don't have all the fancy electronics or a fancy boat, and I clearly don't know anything about catching Florida crappie, but if you want to get out on the water, I'll do what I can to help.

Best of luck!

gENTLEMEN,
HELLO, welcome to crappie.com. your in the right place, this website nd he people on it will let you know when the fish are iting heavily. the harris chain has a latter spawn than lake monroe and some of the other lakes, plus we have still had pretty warm weather.I live just off lake beauclaire and hace crappie fished these lakes for 27 years, My very favorite time is march and april when the spawn on this side of the lakes, lake dora, carlton and beauclaire is on. for whatever eason lake harris and eustis are sooner. i dont think anyone is doing too much yet. The owner of CRAPPIE. COM formerly from the north now lives on lake GRIFFIN has been catching a few there. but not a limit. hang in there its coming. As far as bank fishing someone else will have to help with that.

Originally Posted by Ronald Meeder

Kansas fisherman in Florida for three months, staying in Eustis with my daughter. When do the crappie normally spawn in the Harris chain of lakes. Is there any suggestions where one could fish for crappie from the shore, my boat in the garage back home. Should anyone take mercy on a dry dock fisherman from the mid west any offer him a fishing outing I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

i am sorry i just looked at the post you made after i answered you and see you are a MEMBER FROM KANSAS. WOW!! i think we surely can get you in a boat at some point and time when they start biting. Slab the owner may see to it himself, i shall mention it to him,as we always want to take care of our out of state members.

Just one central Florida fisherman's view. First welcome to Florida. Second, I wish I could offer some help to you about your location, but I am unfamiliar with your areas. That is why I was not going to respond to your post. But I did read them all. I have also noticed that a lot of post views are from out of area ( not in Florida ) so I don't expect a reply from those. The other things that I noticed is that during the early and off seasons, only a few diehards seem to do most of the posting. Others are waiting for some thing ??? So please don't take it personal that you didn't get the response that you were hoping for.

Yes, fishing in Florida is different. I came down from Ohio and had to learn everything a new. I fish lake Monroe . No deep water. No structure. No standing timber. No nothing. But it holds good size fish. When I first started working Monroe, I was told to start fishing it in November. Now I start in September . Off the lake and on to shrimping by Jan. For me a 12 fish day is a good day. But my freezer is full and I have the lake to myself for the most part.

I hope that you guys find what you are looking for. I have not meet a crappie fisherman that was not nice or helpful. All I had to do was ask. ( not everyone finds that easy to do ).

If you are ever on Monroe, I'm in an old Bass Tracker with my name on the side (slimJim ) ( gift from my wife for Christmas ) . Give a shout and I'll be glad to talk with you.

Tight lines and full nets to you

Jim

If you are honest with yourself as you look back on your past success, you weren’t always successful in Oklahoma either.
It’s the same everywhere, just be at the right spot at the right time and be doing the right thing.
The videos can make it look easy for the chosen ones.
But rest assured the camera isn’t always rolling.
When the spawn is on, it’s just easier for at least most of us to find the right spots.
I personally make a point of watching other boats more than i do my fish finder.
And It’s not always the nicest and best equipped boats you need to be watching.

I have a low tech, age old successful method to give you, if you don’t already know it. When I started, I had a boat and motor, no trolling motor. I drove upwind and turned the motor all the way left or right (which ever works best for your boat) and this will let you drift sideways with the wind. Rig your rods with a minnow and split shot or jighead that’s just heavy enough to hit bottom without letting out too much line. Put the handle of the rod in a tackle box handle, fuel tank, or anything to hold it secure while you drift. Let out enough line to see the weight bouncing bottom, then turn one of the reels one turn, another two turns, until you find out how deep they are that day. Most folks use a minnow rig of some kind until they get used to it. I have added a beetle spin, curl tail jig, jig tipped with a minnow, whatever goes through your mind. You can also put a float on some. Now keep in mind that what knocks em in the head today will probably change tomorrow. This has put a lot of fish in my boat before I got into all the junk I use now. Welcome from Debary and enjoy your stay. Hopefully this will help you get a few more in the boat.