Scaring crappie

[Danny Lang]

When the fish are deeper I would say 20+ feet, I usually use a 12 foot rod and just swing it to them, but when the fish are shallower than 15 feet, I have a hard time getting my bait down to them without scaring them after I catch 1-2 of them. Is there a better way to approach shallower fish to keep from scaring them after you catch a few and still see mother loads of fish still there, that will not bite.

[Ketchn]

I like to cast to the them , it is a highly unconventional approach in this brave new world of the VERY ridiculously long rods , but you know what they say , someone's gotta do it , right ?.....

[Danny Lang]

Ketchn what length rod do you use when you pitch to them, size line and jig weight.

[CrappiePappy]

Two thoughts come to mind :

1) Back off of them and let them settle down for 20-30mins. while you fish somewhere else.

2) Back off and cast to them from a greater distance. (& maybe cast farther past them than you were doing)

[happycaster58]

I find that nervous crappie tend to calm down (if left alone) after about 10 minutes. Sometimes, their in-laws drop by and they are hungry. Just stop and observe. Good time to eat a sandwich and have a beverage. Always good to find several piles close together so you can alternate attempts.

[Les Young]

Danny I scared some Sunday & they moved so when they regrouped I started staying back 30 feet & casting past them & caught several. They’d move if you got hung & made the tree move but they’d just regroup on another one & you could repeat just sitting back & casting past them. I’ve been vertical jigging & never really gave the casting enough of a chance but finally figured a couple things out which will help me big time. I feel pretty confident my catch rate will go way up now.

[Danny Lang]

Two thoughts come to mind :

1) Back off of them and let them settle down for 20-30mins. while you fish somewhere else.

2) Back off and cast to them from a greater distance. (& maybe cast farther past them than you were doing)

crappiepappy that makes a lot of sense, I caught some good fish off this spot 3 fish weighted 2 pounds and lost several that was big also. If I would of just backed off a little, I might of caught a lot more bigger fish. Thanks for the thoughts. It really helps.

[Danny Lang]

Danny I scared some Sunday & they moved so when they regrouped I started staying back 30 feet & casting past them & caught several. They’d move if you got hung & made the tree move but they’d just regroup on another one & you could repeat just sitting back & casting past them. I’ve been vertical jigging & never really gave the casting enough of a chance but finally figured a couple things out which will help me big time. I feel pretty confident my catch rate will go way up now.

thanks what would you have changed to catch more. Maybe we can learn together, pm me if you would.

[grizwilson]

If they won't take it moving, I switch to slip bobbers, allows me to back off. I simply am not currently capable of any rod over 10'

[Ketchn]

If they won't take it moving, I switch to slip bobbers, allows me to back off. I simply am not currently capable of any rod over 10'

me either