Cedar creek crappie

[Sourmash]

would like to try the crappie at this lake on upcoming weekend. Can some of you folks that fish there tell me what we might expect as far as size,water color.

[CrappiePappy]

to Crappie.com !!

As far as "size" .... you're liable to find them in all sizes, mostly Black Crappie, but there are probably some White Crappie that got introduced. And there are Blacknose Black Crappie in the lake ( I can personally attest to that). State size & creel limits apply, so that means "no size limit" and a creel of 20/person/day.

With all the rain we've had lately, I'd expect the lake to be stained overall, and probably heavily stained to murky up in the main creek branches that have incoming water. I can't say for sure as I've not been to the lake in several years, but it's known to get that way after heavy rains. One thing it's not known for is flooding, as the spill column at the dam is always open, allowing the lake to rise only to a certain point.

[wannabe fisherman]

[GREENFISH]

Welcome aboard Sourmash! Can't help you with Cedar Creek, but good to have ya here.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[Retired2Fish]

Have not been to Cedar Creek in a couple of years so can't help with your request but wanted to say to the forum.

[Sourmash]

Thanks for the welcome folks. I was really hoping some one that knew this lake would post that 10 or 11 inch fish are the rule. It just looks so “fishy”. We may take a shot at it anyway. Usually fish ky river but that’s been a nightmare this year. Again,thanks for the welcome.

[CrappiePappy]

Thanks for the welcome folks. I was really hoping some one that knew this lake would post that 10 or 11 inch fish are the rule. It just looks so “fishy”. We may take a shot at it anyway. Usually fish ky river but that’s been a nightmare this year. Again,thanks for the welcome.

Well, I can tell you that it used to be that 7-8" fish were the rule, back when they finally got established in the lake & had a few years of good spawns. But, since they took the size limit off, most of what I've heard about the fish is that they are growing to those 10+ inch lengths & in good numbers. I just haven't been there in several years to witness that, myself. My last few trips there, before I quit going there, were less than successful & Taylorsville Lake had started producing good numbers of keeper fish ... so my fishing trips were diverted to Taylorsville.

The whole concept of Cedar Creek was that the Bass & Cats would keep the Bluegill, Crappie, and Shellcracker population under control, by feeding on them. Unfortunately that concept was busted when the poisoning of the lake didn't take out the remnant population of Gizzard Shad, Green Sunfish, and some other natives of the creek system prior to the stocking of the lake. It also filled with water a lot sooner than was anticipated, and so the unwanted fish had that going in their favor, as well. Once the Bass & Cats got big enough & in large enough numbers to make a significant dent in the population of the other stocked fish, the unwanted species had gained in numbers as well. Bass are more likely to prey on soft finned fish, than on hard finned ones, unless they have no other choice ... so the Crappie numbers just got out of hand. But once they took the size limit off, then the anglers were able to make up the difference in number reduction ... allowing the survivors to grow beyond that 8" range.

[Sourmash]

I have my twin 13 year old granddaughters for the weekend and when asked what they wanted to do “we want to go crappie fishing”. They have never been so this will be a tough trip to keep them occupied. So, we may try cedar creek anyway as I have never been there. Wish me luck, I’m surely going to need it.

[GREENFISH]

I have my twin 13 year old granddaughters for the weekend and when asked what they wanted to do “we want to go crappie fishing�. They have never been so this will be a tough trip to keep them occupied. So, we may try cedar creek anyway as I have never been there. Wish me luck, I’m surely going to need it.

Good luck! Enjoy the time together regardless. I'm a twin, so I understand the dynamic. Hope they don't gang up on you and give you a hard time (like my brother and I do my old man).


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[CrappiePappy]

Involve them in the process. Let one pick out a spot (stand of trees) and let the other one monitor the depth finder screen & look for a school of fish, and if that spot doesn't produce anything worthy of dropping a bait on .... then have them change jobs and start all over. Once a likely spot is found, turn them loose !!
If they don't have any skin in the game, it's all your fault if they get skunked ... so, let them make the decisions (with your expertise as the deciding vote). They just may surprise you