Crappie Gear Advice

**skeetbum** · 02-17-2022, 05:56 AM

First, welcome to both of you from Debary. I don’t stand up very long at a stretch so I seldom bank fish. A 1648 Jon boat can be set up basic and vastly expand your fishing Zone without breaking the bank. Doesn’t have to be a big motor, or even gas powered to do the job. The 1648 is a very stable platform and can be had with little to no interior making storage simple.
For rods and reels, it depends and your targets. Buying a crappie specific setup can also be done rather inexpensive. I use ultralight and 2 lb test but that isn’t for everyone. Bitters bait and tackle sells a Diawa combo for about $30 each or two for $50 if I remember right. Setting up with light line makes them more castable and cuts the frustration factor down. Don’t know what size the Vanfords are but maybe an extra spool with lighter line would also do. We also use a lot of hi vis line because this sometimes becomes a finesse thing and hits are seen as well as felt, as in line moving sideways or twitching as the fish swims towards you. I’m not much on bait and use almost 100% jigs and such, some of which I tie. Slip float or float and jig are often used with good success. Learning their seasonal habits will help you to know where they are when you go. Doesn’t make sense to fish the shallows when they’re scattered in deep water post spawn and so on. Cane Pole posted a concise summary of this a few years back that should be found with some research. Good luck to you and Vagante both, look forward to meeting you one day at a Slabfest.

**N1X** · 02-17-2022, 10:40 AM

Howdy Skeetbum,

I do have a 12' john boat, an OLD Sears Gamefisher I bought just over a year ago. Did I mention leaky? My wife and I bought it days before a camping/fishing adventure at Lockloosa Lake in Sept 2020. Here is why it was such an adventure; The young man I bought it from had performed some temporary leak patching. The fist time I put it in the water after dragging it for 90 minutes it began noticeably leaking. So I went to the local Wal-Marts and bought a little bilge bump and it worked like a charm. Next, the motor would not start for me after watching it run just a couple days earlier. Gave up and decided to use the trolling motor to get to the other side of the lake, bad idea. No second battery, paddled about 3/4's across the lake before being embarrassingly pulled back to shore. Getting towed back in for making a bad call isn't that bad a thing. But, when everyone knows you owned an offshore ride for 10 years, spent 8 years in the Coast Guard, it's a three bag day (3 bags over your head).

I was too excited to go fresh water fishing for the first time in many years that I guess my common sense wasn't turned on for that day.

The boat has sat in the garage, except for hand moving it to the driveway at times, since the day I pulled it back from the lake about 16 months ago.

You sound knowledgeable about these types of boats, so I am going to ask a few maintenance questions hoping you do not mind.

The first thing I am have to figure out is how to lift it of the trailer so I can sand it down, some weird tan colored stuff all over and is flaking. Then I need to clean, so figuring mineral spirits. Then I need to pick a good silicon sealant, paint, or Both. I was thinking that I could find some boot toping like we used on the hull of the ships in the CG? Inside, one of the ribs has a crack and need to figure out how to repair. The boat can be used without repairing, as long as no one steps in that area when it is out of the water. The 6hp motor needs a tuneup, I think I can handle that for about $120 tune up kit.

Back to fishing gear, I don't want to go too low in price/quality. When my wife and I first started saltwater fishing a long time ago, I went online and bought 6 rod/reels, $50 - $75 a setup and that's cheap for slat water. I threw out those rod and reels just a few months ago. They how not been used in years as the guides broke, some seized up from corrosion, broken handles, broken bales. I ended up buying the Shimano Baitrunners I wanted in the first place. Those Baitrunners, all four of them, after 15 years, are right next to me ready to go fishing anytime I need them. I am a bit loyal to Shimano after years of having outstanding reels from them. But, I am always open to trying new gear. I have been looking at Lew's, St Croix, KastKing, Mr Crappie products, many others, and now BnM. Most people ask me right about now, where is Daiwa. I have had some bad experiences with less expensive Daiwa's like their Bri Baitrunners that just, lets just say failed in a short time of about 2 years.

I am not hard on my gear, I clean, grease and have them serviced when I feel there is need beyond my ability. My of my 4000 series baitrunners, the auto disengage for the freespool is not working. This goes to the shop as there are too many tiny pieces for my old eyes to deal with

If I fish salt water I always fresh water rinse as soon as I have the chance. Salt will destroy anything. Just to put that out there that I am not one of those guys that abuses his/her gear.

My Vanford's are the VFC3000XGF's, awesome reels. So light and smooth, and 20 lbs drag. I paired them on Clarus 6'6" MF rods. Less expensive rods, but very light, and coming from saltwater gear the combo is so light and sensitive to me I feel like I have kids toys in my hands (in a good way).

High vis line, this topic confuses me. One angler swears by 2 lb fluorocarbon because the fish can see anything larger, and then there is the hi vis line that others swear by? Are you attaching a clear leader on 2 lb test main line?

Slip Floats, have a bunch I am testing out, was supposed to be today, but will be getting them wet tomorrow. Some Thill, THKFISH, MrCrappies, some tall and some short

. Found rubber stops that work on braid and mono, going to try it both ways. (yes I am one of those braid guys, another whole story there I will share one day)

Slabfest, I am hoping to make one of those. May need to have the oat working first as I do not want to be that guy sitting on the dock feeding the fish

Thanks for the info, look forward to any tips on the boat. Hope I didn't bore ya too much

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**gabowman** · 02-20-2022, 06:31 PM

I used to have a little 6 hp motor just like that one and I woulda swore it woulda took me from Ga to California if the creek ran that far. Ha! I was young and ran a few jon boats that leaked some. I had a little tig welding done on them and the small holes I used JB Weld. My boats would still leak a little but nothing enough to get your feet wet over. Back in them days I did alot of overnight trips chasing catfish using jugs and I usually fished every Friday night...rain or not. I sorta liked those rainy nights. I knew there wouldnt be anybody else on the lake fishing my jugs.

I'd say try pulling that deck out and empty out everything you can to get to the metal, tie the back of the boat to a tree and slide that trailer right out from under 'er. Best bet would be to do this in the grass. You dont want any more holes.

See what you are working with and go from there. Good luck with your project boat!

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