Read this before shooting me!

[FlyBoy]

I know I'm on walleye central, but seeing as my first fishing will have to be for Crappie (ice out, the walleye's are closed here) I'd like to know everyones crappie tactics.

I've read about finding a shallow bay that will warm up early, and to look for them suspended in nearby deep water, but I'd like any other ideas anyone has (or other ice out tatics)

1) Where do you look for them.

2) How do you fish them after you find them.

Thanks in advance,

John

[EricCO]

Now I probably will get shot, but I fish my aquarium. The aquarium bite is always hot! I don't care what species as long as it fights back!

Now back to your question. Here in Denver we have a local reservoir named Cherry Creek. The reservoir max's at about 30 - 40 feet and is under 1000 acres. Right after ice out the crappies can be found right next to the tower outlet on the dam. Most successful presentation is an ice fishing rig with strike indicator. Use a small jig with a minnow and you'll catch a bucket full.

[chadk66]

GOOD HUMOR!! Something this board needs more of.

[Greg P.]

I also enjoy fishing for crappies, and I don't mind a little variety in the questions asked on this board.

The first thing I would like to tell you is that each lake might have a different pattern for spring crappie fishing, and it may take a few years to get to know a lake. For example, I fish Lake Minnetonka, which is basically about 10 different lakes joined by channels, many different water types. Parts are clear and deep, parts are murky, parts are algae ridden, etc. Each part of the lake has different spring patterns, and I visit several different spots at throughout the spring. I have found at least 4 different spots, each are productive at different times during the spring.

I have found crappies in shallow, murky bays shortly after ice out. I have also found good numbers of large crappies in 8-10 feet of water over early weed growths, and also found them around bridges in about 3-6 feet of water. My point here is you may find different spots on the same lake, that produce at different times during the spring.

I generally fish with a small bobber with a small jig (1/16 - 1/8) tipped with a minnow. Sometimes the fish are not aggressive and a plain colored hook and minnow works better. For the jigs, I like tube jigs, fuzzy grubs, flu-flus, or tinsel tails. I always put a crappie nibbler on first, then the minnow. Depths greater than 4 feet usually require a slip bobber.

I really recommend moving around until you find a pattern, and write down the water temperature. Then next year, you can take a temperature reading, and determine your best bet based on your experience. For me, the middle of the day seems to be the best time for springtime crappies. For the really shallow bays, a sunny day seems to be best, and the slightly deeper fish seem to be less effected.

I do not have my notes about water temperatures, but I believe they begin the spawn at around 65-68 degrees. You may not have to wait until the middle of the lake surface temperature reaches this point to begin catching them.

Hope this helps, I would love to hear others favorite methods.

If you have any specific questions, I would be happy to give you my best answer.

Greg P.

[Lunker]

I like river fishing. I like to look for wood ( brush, branches leaning over the water) I approach slowly and tie off or anchor. I drop a slip bobber rig with a minnow as close to the wood as I can and sometimes I have to wait 15 minutes for the place to settle down before the fish start biting.
Have fun.

[FlyBoy]

By crappie nibbler do you mean the little things by berkley?

-John

[Starfish]

We have a fairly large but quite shallow lake that I've fished right after ice-out and really had fun. The inlet end of the lake is only 3-15 feet deep, and the crappies and bluegills school up in the 3-10 foot water right along the bank for a few weeks. We use long rods with 1/32 oz mini-jigs (red/white, glow, pink, etc) with a maggot or two (live minnows are prohibited in Washington). We've caught (and released most of) many hundreds of crappie, bluegills, and undersize walleyes in a day. Sometimes we'll use a cherry bobber, sometimes not.

Sunday we fished through the ice there-- 7' deep, literally looking down through the hole to sight-fish. Plenty of fish and fun.

Good luck!

[BradB]

I live in Minnesota and fish the east central part of the state. Just after ice out one of my favorite tactics is to fish three way rigs in deep water. I'll use a tiny red hook (no spinner, float, or bead) and a crappie minnow, and slowly move my minnow along the bottom in the deep basin. This has proven dynamite for crappies in a few of my favorite lakes.

Good luck.

[FlyBoy]

You mentioned fishing them in deep basins, do you locate fish on your electronics first? Or do you have old favorites you rely on?

I'm in west central Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls) so you and I can't be very far apart!

-John

[BradB]

John,

I pretty much go to the old faitful spots. The lakes I fish bottom out around 35 feet or so. In particular, I've had the best luck out in the middle of no where in the deep.

I see fish on the graph but I don't think that means anything. It's more a function of just going around in circles then keying in on a signal.

Brad