First season catch, and a question

I got out fishing first time this season, though not in the boat. Just a little shore side fishing in an inlet off of the CT river in Vermont from where I used to catch crappie during the spawn. But last few years I must have missed them, and haven't caught any there. Or the water was just too filled with algae, which I hadn't seen in prior years.

Anyway, no crappies came to my jig and bobber, though the water was cold and clear, but I also had a second rod bottom rigged with a nightcrawler in a forked stick, thinking maybe I'd find a bullhead while flailing for crappies.

In fact I was surprised by two big early season bluegills on the bottom rig, one 9" and the other 9-1/4", so I had the fun of a first season catch. Both felt quite cold, and I didn't have a thermometer with me. I released them.

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That was it for the morning. But I was also thinking ahead to the summer crappie fishing. I know of a pond where, when fishing for bass with Senkos and big hooks in lily pads, I caught two surprise 13" crappies. Each a year apart. My question is, I'm not sure how to go after them in a smarter way. Maybe I can get some suggestions. I'd love to be able to use my usual 4 pound test crappie rig with 1/16-1/32 oz jigs and tails, but I know they will just hang up instantly on the lily pads, which practically cover the surface, and then I'll lose the lures.

For bass I'm actually using 20 pound braid so I can basically either rip the stems or winch the boat over to the snag to release it. Of course the senko rigged weedless doesn't hang up often, since I fish it weightless. But occasionally it will drop down into the slit in a lily pad leaf and hang that way.

So any suggestions on getting smaller lures more suitable to crappies into this kind of cabbage without losing them every cast? I know they're in there since they are bold enough to hit 5" senkos.

Thanks!

Bobby Garland Baby Shad, Crappie Magnets, I can recommend these as well. Slabanator jigs - Crappie Jigs, Crappie Baits, Fishing Store

Hard not to get hung in pads but smaller baits are less apt to hang. IMHO

Some nice catches

Nice 'gills!! A 9" in these parts is a score and I'm guessing it is in your area as well.
As for fishing the weedy areas, how about a long pole, 12-14' and just dip for them like they so occasionally in the south? A heavier head to find the way down through the pads but the same small tails you're using now. I've never tried it but have seen videos of folks doing it. You'll probably need heavier line than 4#.
I know it's not the answer you're looking for with your current rig but.....
Once the weeds really start to bloom I focus on the outer edge but from what you describe, there is no outer edge. I've never fished in the condition you describe of wall to wall weeds.
Good to see another poster on the board, hope to see more as the season warms up!

Thanks BuckeyeCrappie DockShootinJack, and 6poundtest!

6poundtest, yes a 9" bluegill is a Master Angler class fish in Vermont, so I was happy to get those two so early (and well, kinda by accident!).

I found a couple of YouTube crappie/lilypad videos along the lines you suggested 6Pound. I think I'll try it when the pads start to get thick in late May. I do have a telescoping 15' pole (Goture Hayate) which I haven't used much except a few times on panfish, not in the weeds, and only from shore. It's kind of like a super compact ultralight cane pole. Might be interesting on a narrow boat!

I think I'll try that rod on the crappies in the pads. The videos I've seen do suggest 10# line -- and braid, and they lift the crappie straight up through the hole in the pads -- I guess the fish help by wiggling IF they're vertical. Kind of the opposite if they're side-on in the weeds, where they tangle!

Thank you kindly for the detailed answer!

Here's a pic from last May:

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