Thread: how do I catch bigger crappie?

Originally Posted by FishnLine

Yes, the true slabs do stay on the GA side of the lake. That's really a safe haven for them, since the crackers don't know how to catch them. :D

I was wondering how long it would take for a response like yours to be posted. The trueht is we know how to catch'em. But we like to let em grow to become slabs. While the Sandlappers keep all the dinks. Therefore keep the Sc side of the lake fished out.

Originally Posted by beagler

I was wondering how long it would take for a response like yours to be posted. The trueht is we know how to catch'em. But we like to let em grow to become slabs. While the Sandlappers keep all the dinks. Therefore keep the Sc side of the lake fished out.

:D :D :D You know I couldn't resist.


hava-a-crappie-day,

Didn't mean to hi-jack your thread. A lot of the fisherman here can give you some good advice.

have-a-crappie-day

I didn't mean to hi jack your thread either. THere's lot of good folks on Crappie.com and they all do there best to share there knowledge.
I want to invite you to Crappiefest in OCt take a look at the sticky come on down and have a fun day.

Right now the word I'm getting on Lake Russell it is slow. The water temp is about 83 and a 13/8 pound fish would be a good one for this time of year. As the water starts cooling it should pick up and the fish get bigger.

Originally Posted by TheCrappieGuy

Several ways to increase your chances of hooking a Slab. Bigger baits is a start. For example My biggest 3lb 9oz bit a 1/8 roadrunner head w/2 1/2" tubelike plastic tipped with a medium 2" shiner so the bait was around 5" long with a blade. That is a mouthful! the people trolling crankbaits catch bigger avg crappie=bigger bait..

Maybe lack of patience is my problem. I'll usually downsize til I catch something, or I'll resort to a 1/64th ounce gig head tipped with a small minnow. Your suggestion of using larger baits makes sense because my kids will sometimes catch larger crappie than I'm catching because they are bass fishing while I'm crappie fishing. They've caught crappie on 6" plactic worms, 4" sliders, and 2" crankbaits.

Cold, nasty, overcast, even rainy, winter weather. My biggest fish come on ugly days in winter. Pre spawn crappie are fattest of the year. When you find them stacked up in creek mouths in late winter they are easy to catch a limit. Look near these schools for isolated cover a single stump or rock something a little different. Work these spots.

I'll definitely try this. I usually start fishing a lot in mid february and taper off once the spawn is over.

It is hard to leave fish biting within a jig cast from you alone but if you probe around the main schools you will find a biggun. I fish deep water year round. Big crappie live in DEEP water in my opinion. I've never caught a 3+ under 15' water. Most all were 20'-30'

I fish the upper parts of the lake (greenwood mostly) where the water depth is 17' at full pool. Should I fish the lower parts of the lake where the water is deeper?

Originally Posted by beagler

have-a-crappie-day

I didn't mean to hi jack your thread either.

Fishnline and beagler,

I enjoy the trash talk. Plus it keeps me from having to bump it to the top.

Thanks.

1st off , to catch a big crappie, you have to fish a lake that has big fish , I have caught some in Greenwood that went over 2 pounds but I cant remember catching any over 2.5 pounds, on the other hand , I have caught plenty over 2.5 pounds in Wylie , Santee,Wateree & Murray ( Murray being my home lake & least favorite lol) My biggest came from Clarks Hill AKA Thurman a lil over 3 1/2 but still have been lucky enough to get on the bigguns like some others have. ( search Drill Instructor on the Ga. Board ) he has Murdered some HUGE Crappie on the Hill

Also just as "Thecrappieguy" said, the best time is JUST BEFORE the spawn, the shad group up tight in the winter & the Crappie groge themself on tyhe shad in prepration for the spawn , I feel quite sure thier weight on a HUGE Crappie can decrease more than 1/2 pound after the spawn . I also somewhat agree with TheCrappieGuy when he says bigger baits catch bigger Crappie , and for the most part I agree whole hearty with that, the exception is after cold fronts I sometimes downsize the bait just to get a bite

I say if your wanting to catch a BIG Crappie , ONE of the best ways is Muti rod trolling or tightlining in a lake that has lots of huge crappie

Originally Posted by have-a-crappie-day

Maybe lack of patience is my problem. I'll usually downsize til I catch something, or I'll resort to a 1/64th ounce gig head tipped with a small minnow. Your suggestion of using larger baits makes sense because my kids will sometimes catch larger crappie than I'm catching because they are bass fishing while I'm crappie fishing. They've caught crappie on 6" plactic worms, 4" sliders, and 2" crankbaits.



I'll definitely try this. I usually start fishing a lot in mid february and taper off once the spawn is over.


I fish the upper parts of the lake (greenwood mostly) where the water depth is 17' at full pool. Should I fish the lower parts of the lake where the water is deeper?

i think we may be able to help you out on greenwood . just wait untill some cold weather shows up.

[QUOTE=Allen42]1st off , to catch a big crappie, you have to fish a lake that has big fish , I have caught some in Greenwood that went over 2 pounds but I cant remember catching any over 2.5 pounds, on the other hand , I have caught plenty over 2.5 pounds in Wylie , Santee,Wateree & Murray ( Murray being my home lake & least favorite lol) My biggest came from Clarks Hill AKA Thurman a lil over 3 1/2 but still have been lucky enough to get on the bigguns like some others have. ( search Drill Instructor on the Ga. Board ) he has Murdered some HUGE Crappie on the Hill

Also just as "Thecrappieguy" said, the best time is JUST BEFORE the spawn, the shad group up tight in the winter & the Crappie groge themself on tyhe shad in prepration for the spawn , I feel quite sure thier weight on a HUGE Crappie can decrease more than 1/2 pound after the spawn . I also somewhat agree with TheCrappieGuy when he says bigger baits catch bigger Crappie , and for the most part I agree whole hearty with that, the exception is after cold fronts I sometimes downsize the bait just to get a bite

I say if your wanting to catch a BIG Crappie , ONE of the best ways is Muti rod trolling or tightlining in a lake that has lots of huge crappie[/QUOT]
could not been told any better .