Any tips on fishing bridges from shore for crappie?

[castingcole]

title says it all. Thanks!

[CrappiePappy]

If you can reach it casting from shore : cast upstream and let your bait swing by the pillars. If a float is necessary, do the same if there's any current. And if there is current, try and let your float get to the downstream end of the pillars so it gets halted or stalled in the eddy of the downstream end of the pillar.
If there is no current ... use the wind/wave direction in the same way.
If there is no wind/wave action ... cast past the pillars as far as you can, then use the countdown method to cover all depths around the pillar.
If there's a crossbeam ... cast over it, bring your bait right over top and let it fall on the crossbeam, then slowly drag it off until it falls down the side. Let you bait fall right beside it until it clears the crossbeam and then start your retrieve.

Crappie usually position themselves on a bridge's pillars to where there's the least amount of current, which is usually the downstream sides of the pillars and under a submerged crossbeam between two pillars. They may also position themselves according to the shade provided by the pillars or the bridge itself (in warm weather times) and shallow around the pillars (in cold weather times, as the concrete retains heat from the Sun better than the surrounding water).

And of course, if there are baitfish in these waters and they're close by the bridge .... that's a plus. And if there's any hung up timber on or at the base of the pillars ... that's a plus.

[Speckalator]

Fishing from the bank is still fun to me and I've had a boat for 50 plus years. Older than dirt LOL

One area to target is popular ramps , campgrounds and along the sides of large parking lots . These areas have , at least here, have rip rap rock, holes from prop wash, and folks who use these areas often discard live bait when they leave thus feeding fish. We have an area on upper end of the lake nearest me that offers this plus a bridge. The crappie rigs tossed above the bridge and brought back by the natural hiding spots of bridge pillars produces well. The prop wash area creates a hole for fish to hide out in waiting for food to work it's way downstream. This particular area is close to the river channel and that helps.

The more time fishing there you will learn and even if you don't do well on a particular day you can learn . Have fun. Don't get discouraged as it takes a little time on water to build confidence.

Just my 2 cents

[hdhntr]

every lake has it's quirks and one I bought a cabin near a decade ago was frustrating because didn't know how to fish it and for couple years we did diddly. Locals who were da men would tear them up near us but we didn't. well those who hang with me know what happened next, I went up to them and introduced myself and started talking to them and they laid some knowledge on me plus have become good friends with them! we have a bass boat at the house but use it like once a year just to make sure it runs as we have become successful around the bridges, rocks and ramps as the guys have showed me where they have put the brush in, including around the bridge piers. so observe and ask and you'll cut your learning curve way down. Plus do what you just did and ask the CDC crew.

Now when I go across causeway and see one of the guru's fishing, I stop right on road and visit with them getting quick fishing report.

[Ketchn]

if there is much current it will be quite a challenge to get your jig to stay in the strike zone .
shade is often the key if its a bright day .
a pencil float so it dont move to fast like a large float will .
like mentioned above most all of the tips crappiepappy tossed out are on my list as well .
a road runner might get bit pitched past the pillars on the down current side if you run it slow with your rod tip kinda high .
luck to ya ....

[castingcole]

If you can reach it casting from shore : cast upstream and let your bait swing by the pillars. If a float is necessary, do the same if there's any current. And if there is current, try and let your float get to the downstream end of the pillars so it gets halted or stalled in the eddy of the downstream end of the pillar.
If there is no current ... use the wind/wave direction in the same way.
If there is no wind/wave action ... cast past the pillars as far as you can, then use the countdown method to cover all depths around the pillar.
If there's a crossbeam ... cast over it, bring your bait right over top and let it fall on the crossbeam, then slowly drag it off until it falls down the side. Let you bait fall right beside it until it clears the crossbeam and then start your retrieve.

Crappie usually position themselves on a bridge's pillars to where there's the least amount of current, which is usually the downstream sides of the pillars and under a submerged crossbeam between two pillars. They may also position themselves according to the shade provided by the pillars or the bridge itself (in warm weather times) and shallow around the pillars (in cold weather times, as the concrete retains heat from the Sun better than the surrounding water).

And of course, if there are baitfish in these waters and they're close by the bridge .... that's a plus. And if there's any hung up timber on or at the base of the pillars ... that's a plus.

Awesome that is increadly helpful. I went out yesterday with no Crappie luck and I wish I had read this first! Thank you. Also just to make sure I understand - in the winter closer to the pillings - in summer near the shade - consistently near a slack current from the piling?

Thank you so much


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[castingcole]

every lake has it's quirks and one I bought a cabin near a decade ago was frustrating because didn't know how to fish it and for couple years we did diddly. Locals who were da men would tear them up near us but we didn't. well those who hang with me know what happened next, I went up to them and introduced myself and started talking to them and they laid some knowledge on me plus have become good friends with them! we have a bass boat at the house but use it like once a year just to make sure it runs as we have become successful around the bridges, rocks and ramps as the guys have showed me where they have put the brush in, including around the bridge piers. so observe and ask and you'll cut your learning curve way down. Plus do what you just did and ask the CDC crew.

Now when I go across causeway and see one of the guru's fishing, I stop right on road and visit with them getting quick fishing report.

Thank you!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[castingcole]

if there is much current it will be quite a challenge to get your jig to stay in the strike zone .
shade is often the key if its a bright day .
a pencil float so it dont move to fast like a large float will .
like mentioned above most all of the tips crappiepappy tossed out are on my list as well .
a road runner might get bit pitched past the pillars on the down current side if you run it slow with your rod tip kinda high .
luck to ya ....

What would you do if you are fishing the strike zones and no hits? Do you continue the same spot with different colors or move on?


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[CrappiePappy]

Awesome that is increadly helpful. I went out yesterday with no Crappie luck and I wish I had read this first! Thank you. Also just to make sure I understand - in the winter closer to the pillings - in summer near the shade - consistently near a slack current from the piling?

Thank you so much


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Yeah, more or less .... stay as close to the pillars as possible in any event. Shaded water in the warm weather times, sunny water in the cold weather times. And don't be afraid to cast out in the open water areas when the Sun gets on the water around the pillars during warm weather. That's always a good time to sling a marabou Road Runner (1/16oz or 1/8oz) out into the shaded open water, cast/retrieve as much area as you can reach, then cast/count to 3/retrieve over the same area, then cast/count to 5/retrieve over the same area. That lets you cover the water column in case the fish have moved off the pillars and are out searching for Shad.

[shipahoy41]

Everything they all said. Don't forget to use some "Slab sauce" or "G" sauce if you are fishing with soft plastics.

Mike