crappiekayaker

I’ve heard of people catching them deep, in the larger lakes schooled up around bait balls. It’s not often I catch a white in the winter time. I thought whites were schooling fish. Do whites not school in the winter? I don’t eat them but I do like to catch them.

Went back Saturday at sunup and managed to bring home 9 keeper crappie. I think all and all, I caught 12 or 13 crappie plus two whites. I found the bigger crappie on the bottom in 40 – 38 foot. The small ones moved into the 30 – 32 foot range. After I caught one white, the crappie shut off. As I was heading back to the ramp, I located large unschooled arcs snug to the bottom in about 50-55 foot. Hoping I was seeing walleye, I dropped a lure down. Sadly, I pulled up another white. For only fishing 2 or 3 hours and the wind changing direction, Saturday morning wasn’t bad. Time: 7:15ish – 10:00ish Water Temp: 39 – 40 Wind: SSE, SE, S, SW Lure: Bobby Garland Baby Shad Swim’R

Its taken me 2 years to find crappie in that lake. I caught a few last summer/fall but this winter has been an excellent crappie bite, for me.

I only saw ice on the east end of the lake, yesterday. That Ice can do some major damage, if your not looking out.

Hit the water about 7:45am and had my limit by 9:30am. I’ve never done that before! I started in 35 to 40 FOW and picked a few little crappie that I threw back (if they're not 10 inches, I don’t like to keep them). I moved into about 30 to 32 FOW and started nailing the bigger ones. All 15 fish were caught on the outside of a brush pile, a foot off the bottom. The best day crappie fishing on Fellows I’ve ever had! I had to keep one little one, I could not get the swim bladder to deflate.

Good deal. Thanks for the information.

I was planning on fishing fellows Sunday but it was way too windy. If I can get off work, I’m planning on going tomorrow. Does anyone know if there is still ice on the main lake? I figured this warm weather would have thawed it out.

Lol; yeah, getting mistaken for a mallard isn’t a good way to end a fishing trip.

No problem. If you see a tall guy in a camo FS10 Ascend, stop by and say hi. I’ve not contributed much to the forum but I’m going to try and start.

Most of the time, I stay close to south shore. I've never been swamped out at Fellows but Springfield lake, that's another story..... I've found, the majority of boat traffic on Fellows is respectful of kayakers. I don't currently have one but I've thought about getting a orange flag, just from some added security.

Come say hi sometime. I'm usually either at Fellows or Springfield on Sundays. I didn't know duck season was still going on, until I heard gunshots. That's why I quickly headed back down. That and the wind kills you in a kayak, without a rudder.

Over Christmas break, I was catching the heck out of crappie at Fellows. Went back last Sunday and couldn't get a nibble. I didn't stay out long, due to the wind. The crappie I was catching where in 35 to 40 foot and suspended off brush piles. I'm planning on going back this weekend, I'll report if I find them.

Long time reader, first time poster/responder. Your post did not have any influence on my fishing this weekend. Although, your post did make me over come with envy lol. Taking what I’ve read and trying to apply that knowledge, I tried to target deep water crappie. Went to Fellows and down river of Cape Fair but didn’t find any crappie. Long story short, I’m not one to chase someone’s fish. I like reading what you all post and applying that knowledge to the area I fish. I’d sure like to land a few walleye (like those in the picture) but I’m not going to hoard in on someone’s spot to do so. That being said, if some spills info on the whites running up to Blunks, you best believe I’ll be in the area. I understand that contradicts what I just said. To me that’s a little different of a chase then laying claim to someone’s brush pile. Sorry to be long winded but no, your post did not influence me. Keep the information flowing, without it people like me will be left in the dark.