Good info. Watch your shadow on the water. Sometimes it makes a difference especially in clearer waters.
some out there already know how to ketch spring run fish .
some maybe not so much .
keep in mind crappie are really really spooky when they come in to spawn .
they face an array of possible enemies in short water that they normally don't have to deal with .
not being seen is the key to survival and reproduction .
so if the water is really turbid, muddy, cloudy with limited clarity ...
they will likely go REALLY shallow .
cover is the next item that helps them remain unseen.
brush ,lilies, cattails, bull rushes and other shoreline cover ....
same gig , REALLY shallow .
the next item is the cover of darkness and once again ...REALLY shallow.
in the end judge the visibility of the water .
the clearer it is the deeper they may spawn .
some spots it might be out in 5 to 10 foot of water .
turbid/dirty water maybe 18 inches deep at times .
take lots of floats with ya and last tip ....
put on your knee highs before you go , you might need them
these are just some general rules about the spring run that will put fish in your hand
KABOOM is the word
sum kawl me tha outlaw ketchn whalesTradbow, SuperDave336, Damion Kidd, Slab Apprentice, RVG Fishing, S10CHEVY, Hanr3, Bamaslabber, Jwater, CUonthelake and 2 others LIKED above postJamesdean thanked you for this post
Thanks Ketchn! My first spawn so it’s all new to me. Excited to try long poleing them shallow. Last weekend I saw 55 degrees. Do you think they are already spawning on beds?
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God Bless YouKetchn LIKED above post
I can use all the help and tips I can get in early spring time fishing. Good post and thanks! Got two orders going out this AM for tackle supplies, so I’m getting pumped.
Bob
Damion Kidd, Ketchn LIKED above post
Here is some "outside the box" thinking. Saw this video years ago. Out west where there is little cover along the shoreline, this technique was developed. Approach the shore line with the sun at your back similar to Ketchn's image. Remain motionless for five minutes. (Five minutes equals two lifetimes + forever) Next make short underhand pitches to your shadow on the water keeping your arm and rod movement in your shadow. They explained the reasoning as the fish along the shoreline would be aware of the shadow and as long as it wasn't moving, they would move to the shadow and use it as cover, similar to a dock. YMMV
Mike
i used to be pretty sure in the summer months once we tied up on certain trees if we held it still long enough the fish would come to the shade created by the boat ,still think it might be so btw ....
sum kawl me tha outlaw ketchn whales
I have seen them creep back as well, but as you say you still have to be real cautious and no sudden moves.
Bob
S10CHEVY LIKED above post