Crappie is getting active!

Updated my 3 Birds Thursday nite, so went to Monroe Friday and Sat. to reset all electronics. I found several schools of crappie at the mouth of Saddle Creek and up middle fork. Lake up 11.3 and dropping about 0.2 ft per day. Water is looking great as it’s clearing up. Water temp was 55 And probably even alittle warmer today. Caught over the 2 days maybe 80 or so fish but most were caught in 15 to 25 ft of water in brush with jigs. Tried alittle long lining but it was no go, even with cranks. Largest was 10”. With lots in the size of 7 to 8 inch. Tried brush and skinny water with jig under bobber, and caught a few as they are slowly coming up. Saw lots of people especially Sat, fishing against the bank, with minnows and not catching much, but it’s getting more active. Sunday did a drive by with the wife, and checked out Pine Grove ramp. You can now launch there as water is now down off road, but you have to back down from parking lot to launch as no turn around at the launch yet as it’s still underwater.

Went to Lemon today. Got the cranks going, speed 1.2 to 1.4, wind picked up to about 15 and light whitecaps in lake made boat control pita. Water temp 56.5. Water was really clear. Caught maybe 40, and realeased all but 6 that were 11.5 to 13.75” and one yellow,perch that cracked 11”. He was a chunk. Anybody fishing the bank was still not getting much of anything as my fish came from 10’ to 18’ of water and the best thing I was seeing was the bait balls were finally moving out of the deeper water and starting to scatter so the fish are finally on the move. The fish I cleaned, 3 were males with the 3 biggest all females and all were gorged full of small shad. Females have eggs that looked really good. Have to change out my trolling motor batteries tomorrow as they are crapping out after 5 hrs. especially in this wind. It’s gonna pop I would say after this cold snap this weekend and turn on for both Monroe and Lemon as the big fish are slowly coming up finally. Here’s a pic of a 13.75 female.

Attachment 338438

Great fun


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Great report. Today looks to be the last day to get out for me with the wind in the forecast. Need to get some yard work done anyway. Had a few little guys wearing their formal colors yesterday. Won't be long now!

Thanks for the report. We used to fish Monroe all the time until life got in the way. Hoping to go easter weekend if the weather holds out for first time in probably 15 years

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Right now, if I were fishing Monroe with it still being 11 ft high, I would fish the flooded brush with either a jig under a bobber or even minnow attached and not stay in a place any longer than 5 minutes if I didn’t get a bite and hunt them as the bait fish are coming up and crappie will follow especially in this above normal warm temps we are having. If using longer rods, don’t use a bobber and doodle sock and flip for them. Pick away and you will snag maybe bigger crappie. If using electronics and you find schools deep in brush or tree tops, and you get them to hit, and find them small size, go find other schools to get the bigger fish. Also, lots of trees in the lake from banks erosion due to high water providing excellent cover for fish. Lots of ways to find them so take your time. They are there and slowly in a come back but you just have to peck away at them. Got the batteries installed on my boat and charging, but tomorrow is a friggin wind advisory of gusting wind as high as 40-50 mph gusts.

Great info, thanks. We used to have a lot of fun with 12ft long jig poles on Monroe working that flooded brush near spawn time. Cant wait to get back

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