Getting a little down

[SKs Crappie Catching Adventures]

I do enjoy the hunt! But I also enjoy reaping the rewards!

I need to learn to tie a loop knot. I've just been using a palomar knot. Heading out to the pond now. There is no visible structure but some cover that I plan on fishing.

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Most of the better crappie anglers only use a loop knot to position the jig in a natural position..... Any that don't well they just don't know the know....

This is not the best vid but you'll learn how to tie it here....

[GPatt]

I'd say a $100 fish finder is really all you need. You can get tutorials on YouTube. What really helped me recently was buying the Navionics app $15.99 per year which will give you contours and lake maps for your larger state lakes. These show drop offs, road beds, underwater structures and where the old river beds are, and with the GPS feature on the app, you can literally get on the fishy spots.

[skeetbum]

I have to agree on a few things. First, run what ya brung. No electronics doesn’t mean no fish. Just means different techniques. The countdown method stated earlier is spot on. Also have a straight and curl tail body, both do the trick when the other won’t.
The depth sounder line worked for many generations seamen long before electronics. Different knots for different depths.

If I know I’m in deep enough water, I cast and close the bail and let the jig pendulum back to me, then hold it still for say thirty seconds or so before a slow vertical retrieve. You’re testing for depth of fish. Count on the fall and count reel rotation on the retrieve. Find them on the retrieve and you can unlock the anti reverse and backreel back down to them.

Count on losing some jigs, so don’t spend lots on them, good yes expensive no. Keep after it, we’ve all been in your shoes.

[GreenLine]

The only place worth my time bank fishing is under a shaded boat dock during hot weather.



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[BAFishBarn]

I went out to the pond I was told had crappie. Either I was lied to or I still suck. I ditched the bobber, changed colors, changed spots, tipped with crappie nibbles, sprayed slab sauce, put the bobber on, and on and on. Caught 2 greenies and that's it. Looked for any visible structure and worked different depths. Notta.

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[Spoonminnow]

Other than finding fish of any species in an area, sonar is advantageous in the following ways doing the count-down method can't:
1. Unless there is a lake map that shows depth changes, sonar gives you an idea of those changes for future reference regardless the size of the water fished.
I want to know what I'm casting to 30' from the boat in any direction. Knowing where drop offs are /how steep, and how long points and ledges are can't be learned by dropping a sinker. A flat at one depth can be many yards long and not vary much in depth. Knowing what depth where fish are found is something that changes from area to area. Having a general knowledge of those areas saves time. Sonar helps discover things every time you fish that you were never aware of no matter the year discovered.
2. Following flooded creek channel beds mean changes in depth - following them may mean locating structure-relating fish.
3. Bottom hardness - mud/gravel/sand - is shown on sonar. Sometimes fish prefer a harder bottom. Dropping a sinker won't tell you anything about bottom hardness or where the tops of weed beds and weed lines are. Discovering humps in the middle of a lake or river can make a big difference locating fish as well as knowing how long they are and their steepest parts.
4. The deeper the water fished and the larger it is, the greater the need for sonar. Sounding with a weight in 30 or more feet isn't my idea of using my time efficiently to finding fish and many on crappie.com fish water deeper than most of us are confident fishing.

Fish other waters if the one your fishing isn't yielding more than a few species. Crappie may not exist there. Using light jigs and soft plastics catch everything that swims including catfish and suckers as well as fish of all sizes. Just a matter of time until you have full confidence using them in areas you've memorized as possible fish holding areas. The more the better.

If the water you're fishing is only 5' or less and less than a few acres, don't bother with any of the above. But for the reservoirs I fish I want to know what this drawdown revealed:


What is natural to fish should not be a factor choosing lures or anything else regarding lures. Technical factors such as lure speed, shape/action/size and how used (presentation) is no different than fishing for any species. All the lures I pictured work a majority of the time and on the same day in the same water most times of the year. They are my fish finders and used many yards to the side of the boat or out from the bank aided by knowing the bottom.

[Ketchn]

I usually fish a jig under a float and usually about 18" deep. But I have no idea what the water depth is in each area I'm fishing.

I've been catching bass like crazy but when i switch to crappie I get nothing. For weeks now.

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this time of year in the spots I frequent you wont find crappie up that high in the water column except maybe in the dark .
I was using a float today at the river on my lunch break and had it set at 7 foot deep in about 12 fow and every species of fish was taking the jig around that depth .

[scrat]

Back in the day when sonar wasn't around. We would sink cedar trees and Mark them by looking at things on banks like light poles or big trees to mark where we sank them. Fish habitat" build it and they will come" still doing it as of today although I have sonar and GPS to mark my brush tops

[Spoonminnow]

Most of the better crappie anglers only use a loop knot to position the jig in a natural position..... Any that don't well they just don't know the know....

Interesting comment.

[deathb4disco]

I went out to the pond I was told had crappie.

Crappie in ponds are always an iffy situation. My experience in similar waters tells me that crappie will jump all over small jigs. So, if you're not catching them, they're either not many left in the pond or you're doing something wrong. IMO, the two most important variables are depth and speed. Regarding speed, most people reel too fast. (High gear ratio reels make this easy to do.) So, when in doubt, slow down. I don't know how big a jig head you're using, but I'm a big fan of 1/32 oz. It's big enough to get decent casting distance and light enough to get a fairly slow drop through the water. A 1/32 oz head matched with a trout magnet is a killer bait.