Thread: Herrington Lake crappie

Is there stickups around Gwinn island area, on the mainlake?
Thanks,
Bassky

Originally Posted by Michael D

I know that crappie are hard to find on Herrington, but with by taking your time and jigging around the stick-ups some very nice crappie can be caught. I managed to catch some very nice crappie this spring, several of them were in the 14" to 15" range. Some were caught on minnows, but most were caught on 1/32 oz. char. curly tail jigs and also on Cabin Creek's #1 purple pop-eye jigs tipped with a wax worm. On my lastest outing on 05/29/05, I managed to bring home 4 that were 14". I was fishing in the Gwinn Island area of the lake. Just thought this may be of interest of those who have given up on the idea of crappie fishing Herrington Lake. I have seen several catches by some anglers of 20 to 30 fish this past spring.

Congradulations on some fine catches this spring. Those are some nice crappie. I've never fished Herrington, but I have heard it is tough to fish. I read an article in Ky Game & Fish about catching them at night there. Have you ever tried em at night? Let us all know how you do as the summer progresses. Take care,

Greenfish

P.S. Welcome to the board, I see it's your first post. We need some more people reporting from the state. Glad to have you.

glad to have you on board with us !

You are most correct about Herrington being "tough" to pattern. But, there are some quality sized Crappie swimming in those waters. I've fished it since the late 50's ... and it still can skunk me, on any given day ...LOL!! Best Crappie I've ever taken from there, ran around the 2lb mark. Caught them "Vertical Casting" a large oak that had hung up on a cliff face, on the main lake (across from Herrington Woods).
As a youngster, with my Grandparents, we used to catch them on minnows around stickups ... in Red Gate Creek, McKetchnie Creek, and what is known as "the drift pile". The "DP" is the outside corner of the bend in the lake - just before you get to Red Gate Creek (coming from the dam end). Lots of logs and trees get hung up in that pocket ... and if you can sit there, at night, with a lantern light (or other light) -- you can sometimes get into some nice Crappie.
Early in the year ... like mid April to early May - I've had good luck in some of the little finger pockets along the main lake, casting marabou jigs over the submerged brush or around the log jams. These "pockets" are between Smith Hollow and "Mile Stretch". Another place I've had success, at this time of year, is around the stickups & docks between Chenault Bridge and Well's Landing Point -- and behind the launch road at Gwinn Island.
The biggest problem with Herrington - is that a lot of the standing timber (that can be seen most often) is fished to death. Finding a submerged brush pile or tree is, sometimes, key to finding a school of Crappie. Of course, one should never overlook a dock - especially if it's got standing timber nearby (or pole holders attached). :D
Med minnows, 1.5-2.5" Shad, and Brook Silverside Minnows are the preferred live bait choices ...... marabou jigs in white or chartreuse, pop-eye jigs, Roadrunners, and tube jigs in various colors are the preferred artificial bait choices.
Summertime, fishing at night - around large docks that have the big "street lights" on them (down close to the waters surface) - is also a potential hotspot. Fish around & near the dock where the "edge" of the light is. Fishing IN the lighted area will usually result in hooking up with a small Bass, Bluegill, or huge Hybrid Striper !! It's better for Crappie if the Shad circling under the lights, are small ... the larger Shad tend to draw the Hybrids, more often than not.
Some people say you have to fish 20-30ft deep, in the Summer, to catch Crappie from Herrington. I don't ever remember fishing more than 12ft deep - any time of the year ...day or night !!

Any of you guys start getting into them Herrington Slabs ... drop me a PM or post - I'd appreciate it ! ............... luck2ya ..........cp

Thanks for the detailed info on Herrington, Crappiepappy. I will be sure to keep it in mind on my next trip out.