Lake Mitchell 11/22

I fished Lake Mitchell yesterday, and spent most of my time in Cargyle and Blue creeks. Water temp was about 62 at launch, climbed to 67 by afternoon. Water had about 3 feet of visability. I shot docks, spider rigged around humps and brush, and even fished a little on fallen trees in the backs of creeks. I caught 1 crappie about 1:00 that weighed a lb, and hooked into but lost another on the same dock a couple casts later. Caught him on a 1/16oz chartreuse jig with a blue pearl BG baby shad body. I caught a whole bunch of little bass and a few bream and a little cat I hooked in the tail. I flat out don't know how to catch crappie at Mitchell. Most of the fish I catch are good fish, but I can't figure them out. I have been a handful of times this year, and keep thinking I will do better the next time, but don't seem to. Anyone been out there this fall?Attachment 389330Attachment 389331

I fished Mitchell back in October and did okay. I caught four or five keepers and a lot of smalls. I was fishing lay downs on the main channel and back in creeks. The lay downs weren’t visible from the bank only with electronics. Trees that had been in the water for awhile seemed to hold crappie.


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I fish from a kayak, so a little different of course, but I pull one or two fish off a boat dock or laydown and keep moving. By the end of the day I have a cooler full, but I never sit in one place for more than a few minutes.

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Originally Posted by Bamaslabber

I fished Mitchell back in October and did okay. I caught four or five keepers and a lot of smalls. I was fishing lay downs on the main channel and back in creeks. The lay downs weren’t visible from the bank only with electronics. Trees that had been in the water for awhile seemed to hold crappie.


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I appreciate the info. I'm going to send you a PM.

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Originally Posted by Ditch Basser

I fish from a kayak, so a little different of course, but I pull one or two fish off a boat dock or laydown and keep moving. By the end of the day I have a cooler full, but I never sit in one place for more than a few minutes.

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Hey Ditch, I always appreciate your feedback. I try to keep it moving, but i wasnt great about it on this trip. I get hung up fishing for a while places I have caught crappie before, or look good on electronics even if I'm not catching anything. I never caught enough to get on any kind of pattern Sunday. How long do you stay on a spot if you aren't catching fish but think there are fish there? Or have caught fish there before, or are getting bites but not fish? Thanks.

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Originally Posted by wahanlin

Hey Ditch, I always appreciate your feedback. I try to keep it moving, but i wasnt great about it on this trip. I get hung up fishing for a while places I have caught crappie before, or look good on electronics even if I'm not catching anything. I never caught enough to get on any kind of pattern Sunday. How long do you stay on a spot if you aren't catching fish but think there are fish there? Or have caught fish there before, or are getting bites but not fish? Thanks.

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Good question to the right person to answer. I’m bad about if I catch one not wanting to move.


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I think I have Attention Deficit Disorder, LOL! I've pulled a couple Crappie from a laydown and can see many more on a fishfinder, but will move after a few minutes without an additional bite. I'll circle back and try the same laydown again a little bit later though. I think I'm probably just taking the active fish before moving on.

For me the key is getting on a pattern. It always comes back to color and depth. I love fishing laydowns because I'll start shallow and work my way back to the deep end. If I don't get a bite I move to the next laydown. When I catch a fish I see if it holds true at the next laydown. One day the fish will all be at 10 feet, the next maybe 6 or even 2 feet. Once I have that figured out that's the only depth that I'll fish as I move from tree to tree. The fishfinder helps a lot since you'll typically see the primary depth of the fish.

Hope this helps!

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Originally Posted by Ditch Basser

I think I have Attention Deficit Disorder, LOL! I've pulled a couple Crappie from a laydown and can see many more on a fishfinder, but will move after a few minutes without an additional bite. I'll circle back and try the same laydown again a little bit later though. I think I'm probably just taking the active fish before moving on.

For me the key is getting on a pattern. It always comes back to color and depth. I love fishing laydowns because I'll start shallow and work my way back to the deep end. If I don't get a bite I move to the next laydown. When I catch a fish I see if it holds true at the next laydown. One day the fish will all be at 10 feet, the next maybe 6 or even 2 feet. Once I have that figured out that's the only depth that I'll fish as I move from tree to tree. The fishfinder helps a lot since you'll typically see the primary depth of the fish.

Hope this helps!

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It is helpful, thank you. I think there is a lot to be said for catching the active fish and moving on, fishing a lot of spots for less time instead of fishing a few spots for a long time.

If the wind isn't up boat control is a lot easier in a kayak. I just grab hold of the dock or laydown while I jig with the other hand. Work the area in reach quickly, move a few feet and repeat. Then short paddle to the next target. If I move over submerged cover I'll stop and always work that. Most fish come from cover that's not visible on the surface simple because it doesn't get much pressure.