Solo: How I caught crappie today. 10/08/2020

Buck Perry says that knowledge is the key to fishing success. He is exactly right. I had to go solo today and didn’t want to repeat what I had been doing the past few trips. First, let me give you the fishing conditions this morning.

Partly cloudy, 47,983 flow rate, 73 surface temp and a million Bass boats out chopping the water to pieces. I won’t say what I thinking about all these bass fishermen because I don’t want to get banned on this great family forum.

My magic lure today will make Scott Bunch and Neal Alvis happy for sure. It was a Bone White/chartreuse Crappie Magnet on a 1/16 oz Litewire jig that I powder painted. It was dynamite.
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I fished the main river in all that current. One offshore brushpile and then one bluff. The first fish that I caught on the first cast over the brush in 15 feet of water produced a tarp 14” crappie along with 2 other keepers, 3 shorts, and one spotted bass. Then on to the bluff.
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I know how to fish current. But I even enhanced my knowledge a bunch today. On the bluff, there is a shelf that is about 8-10 wide and 14 feet at the drop off into 25-40 feet of water. I setup my boat parallel to the shelf, nose of the boat pointed into the current and sitting in 25 feet of water. Spot lock on and Ivan holding steady. Knowing that the shelf was 14-15 feet deep at the drop off, I made short 15’ casts directly upstream and let the current bring the lure back to the fish in a natural presentation. The fish ate the paint off that little jig. Grin Much fun.

The bonus fish there was a little Smallmouth Bass.
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I will add a screen shot of the offshore structure that I started on and the technique was the same. Position the boat directly over the brush and make 15-18 foot casts and let the current bring breakfast to the little fishes.
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Great going. Always great reports. Thanks for sharing. Is there a bass tournament? I was thinking about going tomorrow. Thanks again.

Good catch and Great Hat, Go Vols. Fishing current is challenging but rewarding when it goes as planned. Fish on!

Nice!! Way to get the flow to work for you.
I haven’t mastered that yet.
I did just glean a new idea though.
Thanks for that.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Originally Posted by Tenn Tux

Great going. Always great reports. Thanks for sharing. Is there a bass tournament? I was thinking about going tomorrow. Thanks again.

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There must be a big bass tournament going on. Early on there were 4 or 5 bass boats racing down river from up north. Dayton must have a tournament under way. Boats were scouting the past two days and today they were going nuts. Take a number and get in line if you want to frog fish the grass that has finally emerged on the Chick.

Phoenix Bass Fishing League (FLW) 8-9-10. Thanks for the heads up.

You continue to amaze us all with your unselfish reports. To show the bait, describe the technique and give basic instructions on the type cover on which the fish were found, is a benefit to those of us, who get to go less often, by at least giving us ideas to try. I salute you Sir !!!

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Originally Posted by USMA65

You continue to amaze us all with your unselfish reports. To show the bait, describe the technique and give basic instructions on the type cover on which the fish were found, is a benefit to those of us, who get to go less often, by at least giving us ideas to try. I salute you Sir !!!

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Thank you for the kind words. When I was young, no one would tell me anything about how to catch crappie. All I know is what I have experienced for myself. I have vowed to help as many people learn to fish as I can. I’m not the best crappie fisherman either by far, but no one will give out information like I do. They fish tournaments and I did too a few years ago, but even then, I gave out info. Most wont give you the air in a jug. Grin. Greedy and selfish is something that isn’t in my DNA.

BTW, you may not have heard one of my pet sayings. Don’t fall in love with a favorite lure or color because one day it will break your heart like your first girlfriend did. Lolol. Just because the fish ate the Crappie Magnet up today in the color that I showed, doesn’t mean that they will even give this lure a sniff tomorrow. I have said and still believe that Bobby Garland lures rule Chickamauga. But they aren’t my sponsor so I fish with Stump Bugs by Bonehead Tackle, Bass Assassin Panfish Assassins, Crappie Magnets, BPS 2” baby Shad imitations, and other things. I love to experiment.

Good fishing you all.

Thanks for sharing. Very nice read for sure. I think you keyed (unselfishly) on a couple of very important tactical approaches for others to take away if they're a mind to...
(1) how to capitalize on key (season appropriate) (transition) structure; and (2) how to use the prevailing wind and/or current to make a very natural bait presentation.
I would certainly agree with others that your willingness to show and share your knowledge and experiences is quite refreshing, interesting and valuable to this forum.

You always have good posts and stories and you are truly unselfish. Thank you for sharing and for helping others.