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Thread: Catching Muddy Water Crappie by Brad Wiegmann

  1. #1
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    Thumbs up Catching Muddy Water Crappie by Brad Wiegmann


    Name:  crappie fishing guide Dominic Pellegrino.jpg
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    Some years it just seems like it rains everyday making your favorite fishing hole a muddy mess. Fishing in muddy water can be intimidating to some crappie anglers. Nevertheless,crappie can be caught in muddy water.



    “This has been one of those years when it has rained a lot and places with normally clear water conditions are stained or muddy. Normally, I would just fish lay downs or brush piles where crappie would bunch up in a group along with fishing 15-to 30-feet deep on rock ledges or drop-offs, but not this year. Instead,the muddy conditions have the crappie scattered out more and moving into more shallow areas around the lake,” said Oklahoma fishing guide Dominic Pellegrino (www.lancesguideservice.com or (918) 914-2633.


    Pellegrino noted that these scattered crappie are often the larger, isolated crappie that moves in to the creek arms during muddy water conditions. “I go strolling for crappie when I’m faced with muddy water. Strolling allows an angler to cover lots of water while presenting multiple lures at the same time increasing your opportunity to locate and catch fish especially when they are scattered in muddy water,” said Pellegrino.


    Depending on the day and other factors like water temperature, Pellegrino will start near obvious structure like a channel swing or ledge knowing crappie are in the vicinity.However, he knows that these crappie are probably not really relating to anything just scattered around. That’s why he will rig up two rods with multiple lures to give crappie plenty of opportunity to strike his lure.


    When strolling Pellegrino will rig up two 10 foot rods with spinning reels lined with 20 pound braid. He doesn’t use any leaders instead tying directly to each lure with the braid using a knot that has a small loop allowing the jig to move freely. The key he noted is finding where and how deep the crappie were to catch them.


    He staggers the lures to cover more area keying in on depths less than 15 feet. One he lets down to the bottom and turns his reel handle up keeping just off the bottom. The other rod Pellegrino will keep up higher in the water column catching any suspended crappie. Normally, he will troll between .2- to .5-mph and varying it until the crappie start biting.


    “My top jig when strolling is a Fle-Fly(www.flefly.com) Lead Free Jig.It’s a hair tied chenille crappie jig. The smaller more compact jig in Brown/Black is my favorite color,” said Pellegrino.

    Name:  CK-BusterBrown.jpg
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    For a bottom jig, Pellegrino will use a Fle-Fly Crappie Kicker. It’s a soft plastic body lure with a straight tail with his favorite color pattern being Buster Brown. The tail actually floats up behind the body and moves with every shake, twitch or reel crank.


    “I rig the Fle-Fly Crappie Kicker on a Fle-Fly Big Eye Jig Head that have holographic eyes, UV Glow coating and most importantly a large bait keeper to keep the soft plastic lure in place. Because this is my bottom jig, I will use a heavier one than the jig tied above. Normally that’s a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jig head that contrast the color of Crappie Kicker,” said Pellegrino.


    Pellegrino noted crappie will still be around the areas you normally catch them, but scattered if it’s muddy. The key is to cover a lot of water and find the active crappie that will bite to be successful.
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  2. #2
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    On my home lake it is different...our 2500 acre water retention Reservoir is Fertile and heavily stained, with no natural cover left, and very little structure except for humps, creekbeds, ponds, foundations, and a couple trestles.
    We have been getting Heavy rains throughout the past couple years and fishermen are lost...
    When muddy conditions occur, the Crappie head for 2 places...either shallow water coves or breaks where the waves are crashing, it is alittle clearer, and oxygen levels are way higher....or to areas where we added BIG COVER, so they can back up against it and feel protected.
    So we still just cast to them....I use 20lb gray Seaguar smackdown, hyper snap/swivel, and a 1/16oz jighead for shallow water, and a 1/8 oz jig head with 1/0 red sickle for deeper cover.
    The key to catching Crappie here is with Contrasting colors, Sound, Vibration, and scent....Chartreuse is one of the first colors to put away because it Mutes and Blends in our water. When the sun is high or when it is cloudy are the best times. Black and White, Red and White, etc, are good cloudy day colors...But my best all around and go to lure is a Black and Blue with silver sparkle Keitech Easy Shiner 3" swimbait...if it's still not getting their attention, you can pare it with a horsehead spinner, beetle spin, small buzzbait, etc. Smell also comes into play, so you can add a Nibblet, waxworm, Slab Sauce, etc.
    Keitech USA Pro Staff

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    Quote Originally Posted by Slab View Post
    When strolling Pellegrino will rig up two 10 foot rods with spinning reels lined with 20 pound braid.

    Quote Originally Posted by INTIMIDATOR View Post
    ....I use 20lb gray Seaguar
    Why so heavy? Are there tuna in the lake?

  4. #4
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    This is a very timely article. Thank you!
    I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

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    Quote Originally Posted by deathb4disco View Post
    Why so heavy? Are there tuna in the lake?
    Nope, No Tuna....ALOT of riprap and rocks, with 20lb Seaguar that is the size of 2-3lb Mono, I can use a teeny thread that is very strong! I can pull my jigs right out of the rocks or cover and not lose rigs....Plus we have Walleye that inhabit the same areas, and if you've ever eaten one of them, you take no chances! lol
    My largest Walleye from the lake is 31 inches and 14.5 pounds. I may have to adjust again since the State started Stocking MUSKIE last year!
    Keitech USA Pro Staff

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    Good one. I need to get some of those Crappie Kickers!

  7. #7
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    Thanks for a great post!

  8. #8
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    Good info and if you put the time in slowing down and fishn different depths (including the shallows) you'll get on the fish.....

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