Big Big Shiners = Big Big Crappie

[Rojo]

I'm into crusting my Crappie with Corn Flakes right now. No grease, I get to season exactly the way I want, crispier fillet after baking too. You need Big Crappie for this for best results. Anyway I went to the Hatchery an bought a couple of pounds of #6 Golden Shiners. Number 6 shiners designate 1000 of this size shiner weighs 6 pounds. After screening for size you still get some larger shiners, they are big enough that the top of the shiner's back is raised. I'm fishing these larger shiners under a cork 3-4ft using #2 Mosquito hooks and a very short leash to quote Ketchn. This means I have a 1/16oz Clam Shot 4 inches from the hook. Fishing very heavy cover you really got to watch your cork because the big fish strike fast, not like when the cork just slowly sinks but it's there & then it's not kinda thing. If the fish gets too deep with the line before setting the hook they get tangled in the cover and you have to work them back out.



Second picture looks funny, maybe with these big fish I shouldn't hold them out. This fish is just shy of 17 inches, over 17 if you pinch the tail together. Anyway only weighing 1.802 pounds, you can see in the picture the Crappie has no girth. I'm catching these where lots of Herbicides have been used, the food supply has been heavily damaged by killing all the habitat where the bait fish spawned. Fishing the big, big, shiners reduces the little Crappie from biting, this allows time for the big Crappie to come out of their cover to strike.

Note* you don't get a lot of bites, I'm fishing 4-5 hours for 10 bites but they are Studs when you hook one.

[SuperDave336]

Good job. A 17" crappie is a good one anytime even if a little skinny. 10 good ones, I'd take that any trip.

[happycaster58]

My PB was over 16.5" but only weighed 1.9 Lbs. Big girl was caught in Feb. around a bridge with a bigger minnow. Looks like the same issues as you.

[silverroach]

That is just awesome. Thanks for sharing.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[BuckeyeCrappie]

Oh my that’s a whopper!

[Rojo]

I kept 6 all 14 inches or better.

[Ketchn]

BOY HOWDY bro , man that would a been a barn burner about late February .....
that is a dandy fish , KABOOM is the word

[Jamesdean]

Great ketchn Mr John. Those are some studs for sure. Congrats for sure.

[NIMROD]

My dad always favored big Shiners. I have not used them in many years .

[Mud]

Wow!!!! I gotta catch a big crappie and try that recipe! Can’t wait for the weather to turn in a few weeks.