Thanks Thanks:  0
HaHa HaHa:  0
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Help me with this scenario.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    980
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Help me with this scenario.


    I am finding this a lot lately. I find baitfish, but I struggle to catch anything. I find them on the sonar then deploy a marker buoy. Then I try to get over the top of them and hold with the Ipilot. Usually start jigging with a grub body tipped with nightcrawler or something similar. I have tried trolling and drifting through with no results. What lures and tactics do you guys recommend?








  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    illinois
    Posts
    9,952
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Nice clear pics



    MEMBER CRAPPIE MAFIA

  3. #3
    CrappiePappy's Avatar
    CrappiePappy is online now Super Moderator - 2013 Man Of The Year * Crappie.com Supporter
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Lexington, KY
    Posts
    23,503
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Picture #1 ... nice baitball, but no fish seen

    Picture #2 & #3 ... baitball is deep for a reason (temp, oxygen levels, barometric pressure), no real discernible school of fish seen - possible scattered singles even deeper, but well away from baitball (possibly already fed, or may be reacting to weather conditions)

    Picture #4 ... even larger baitballs, but still no obvious fish markings. Even deeper in the water column

    I wouldn't have fished these Shad schools, myself ... but, would have gone looking for other baitballs with larger fish markings that were in closer proximity to them.
    One thing to understand, too, is that in warm water ... fish don't see as well. Likely why crankbaits being trolled around during this period are producing better than small jigs or minnows, but that's just a hypothesis of my own. That being said ... if I were to find a baitball with a school of fish close by, and I wanted to hover over them & fish --- I'd likely use something like a Kastmaster, or large blade bait like a Silver Buddy, and rip jig it. Dropping it to the bottom & ripping it up a couple of feet & then letting it flutter back down on semi-taught line would mimic a Shad in distress or dying, create a disturbance that was noticeable above the sound of the baitball, and give the impression of an easy meal.

    Crappie won't charge into a ball of bait like a White Bass, Hybrid Striper, Black Bass, etc ... but, will pick off stragglers or the wounded/dying. You have to make your bait appear to be that "easy meal", while at the same time make it stand out from the baitball (in sight/sound).

    ... cp
    Likes genec LIKED above post

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    980
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Here are a couple more. First one I believe is a baitball with larger fish in the area


    2nd one I think are crappie. Return is too big to be shad, and I know what white bass look like on my graph

  5. #5
    CrappiePappy's Avatar
    CrappiePappy is online now Super Moderator - 2013 Man Of The Year * Crappie.com Supporter
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Lexington, KY
    Posts
    23,503
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Good possibility you're right about 1st picture. But, 2nd picture is the same picture as #1

    ... cp

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    980
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Yeah sometimes I don't recheck my work when I am busy

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    3,426
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I would ,like cp said ,a Hopkins,kastmaster and pop it up and follow it back down,if feel something while going down or line stop,set the hook,fast moving bait in summer most all game fish will react to it,try 3/8 ounce first
    God Demonstrated his love for us. Romans 5:8

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

BACK TO TOP