There aren't many things I enjoy more than catching crappies
in the spring. Oh sure, I enjoy catching bass and walleyes
early in the year also, but fishing seasons being as they
are, bass and walleye seasons are still closed when the first
days of nice weather arrive. On the other hand, crappies can
be taken as soon as the ice leaves the lake. For me, crappies
provide the first open water fishing of the year. Crappie
activity will vary depending on location. In some southerly
regions, crappies will go on a bite in March or April. As
you travel north, expect the action to begin in April or May.
Water temperature is one key. Although crappies can be taken
in colder waters, expect activity to get good as water temperatures
approach sixty degrees. Begin looking for early season crappies
in areas adjacent to their spawning grounds. The first drop-off
near a large flat with rushes could be very productive. As
the water warms, the crappies will become more willing to
feed. They will also move shallower. The shallower they get,
the easier they will be to catch, if a few things are remembered.
Remember that shallow water fish can be very spooky. Long
casts will be most productive. There are times when an angler
can hover directly over the fish, but most of the time it
works best to stay away from them. Movement in the shallows
will be quiet if you use your Minnkota trolling motor. Quietly
adjusting to a specific piece of structure is essential in
shallow water, that is where electric trolling motors perform
the best. When crappies are holding tight to cover, because
of a change in water temperature or barometric pressure, or
because the water has suddenly risen or fallen it is essential
to fish the crappies in a vertical motion. The problem may
be that they are tight to cover and usually shallow, with
adjacent deep pockets or holes near by, but not enough to
position a boat over the top of them.
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Therefore, a vertical presentation with a Thill slip
bobber might do the trick. It will allow the presentation
of the bait over the top of the crappie. Something that
is important to remember is a crappie always feeds on
food that is in front of them and just slightly above
them. The bobber should be set so that it will present
the bait in a suspended offering, and once you find the
depth you can work the shoreline around structure like
stumps and points. I like to cast a small jig below a
slip-bobber to these shallow water crappies. A jig in
the 1/64 ounce size range will be best. A Little Guppy
or Little Niper in pink, orange, or chartreuse would be
a good choice. If the crappies are aggressive, I will
use a Techni-Glo Fat Boy in the larger jig sizes, when
they're finicky go with the smaller jigs. It sometimes
helps to attach a split shot or two, eight to twelve inches
above the smaller jigs. |
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Give me an ultralight Shimano rod and reel with four
to six pound test line, a handful of jigs, a nice day
and some crappies that are willing to bite and I'm a happy
guy. You'll be happy too, if you take advantage of this
early season crappie bite that is going on somewhere near
you right now. For more techniques about crappie and walleye
fishing drop me a line at www.walleye.info. Hope to see
you on the water! |
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