Crappies Out Of Bridgeport, April 6

[Phil Lilley]

Met good friend Paul Crews at Bridgeport, a little after 2 pm. We tried a few places where Duane and I had caught some crappies the other day but didn't find much. Paul had been over there earlier in the week and caught them off the first bluff on the east side of the lake above the 76 bridge so we went there.

Wind was out of the SW but not hard. We started on the south end where the bluff seemed to have some chunk rock ledges- not the steep part. We figured out the crappies were out in 18-22 feet of water, about 30 feet off the bank and may be suspended 12 feet deep. We threw 1/8th oz heads with smoke swimming minnows and let it drop almost at the time it dropped in the water close to the bank. Didn't seem like it would ever hit the bottom and most of the time it didn't.

They were very spotty and scattered. Would catch 2 may be 3 in one spot at times but most of the time it was just one. Every once in a while we'd catch one close to the bank. Caught may be 10 keepers and that many shorts till we went looking for a different place about 6:30.

Boated back down lake under the bridge to the bluff below the bridge on the left (heading down). Tried it for 15 minutes- nothing. Them went around the point (south) to a mark MDC brush pile. Found the pile- it was very big and about 30-40 feet off the bank and the top of it was may be 6 feet under the surface. We immediately started catching crappies and figured out where the edges were. We pulled another 10 keepers out before it got too dark to fish. We did switch to 1/16th oz heads because they'd sink slower. No wind so feeling the bite was easy.

We didn't have anything to measure them so what went into the live well was for sure over 10- all of them were probably over 11. Bet we threw another 10 keepers back. That's ok... we caught enough for both of us to take a mess home.

Sorry no pics... It's hard taking pictures when you don't want to stop casting!

Hope this helps someone catch 'em. I know I won't be back over for quite a while.

[Micheal Kyle]

I took the girls to flat creek today, started around 2 as well caught a lot of short crappie, bluegill and short bass. Girls had a blast with the fly rods had a jig under a float and had it set at 9feet. Fishing the gravel and chunk rock banks around the lay downs. Here is a pic of there 2 best crappie 13 inches each one.

[murphdog]

Thanks for the detailed excellent report. I always appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge and help fellow fishermen.

[Sac River Jim]

thnx for the reports. Phil i lost a good half dozen or so jigs in that brush pile a week ago last saturday . that thing is huge!!!! about the time we thought we had the edges figured out we would get hung up but we did manage a couple nice crappie off it. Micheal great pic of your girls and tell them i'm jealous I didnt catch anything near that size when i was up there the other day.

[Micheal Kyle]

They just got lucky:)

[grizwilson]

Met good friend Paul Crews at Bridgeport, a little after 2 pm. We tried a few places where Duane and I had caught some crappies the other day but didn't find much. Paul had been over there earlier in the week and caught them off the first bluff on the east side of the lake above the 76 bridge so we went there.

Wind was out of the SW but not hard. We started on the south end where the bluff seemed to have some chunk rock ledges- not the steep part. We figured out the crappies were out in 18-22 feet of water, about 30 feet off the bank and may be suspended 12 feet deep. We threw 1/8th oz heads with smoke swimming minnows and let it drop almost at the time it dropped in the water close to the bank. Didn't seem like it would ever hit the bottom and most of the time it didn't.

They were very spotty and scattered. Would catch 2 may be 3 in one spot at times but most of the time it was just one. Every once in a while we'd catch one close to the bank. Caught may be 10 keepers and that many shorts till we went looking for a different place about 6:30.

Boated back down lake under the bridge to the bluff below the bridge on the left (heading down). Tried it for 15 minutes- nothing. Them went around the point (south) to a mark MDC brush pile. Found the pile- it was very big and about 30-40 feet off the bank and the top of it was may be 6 feet under the surface. We immediately started catching crappies and figured out where the edges were. We pulled another 10 keepers out before it got too dark to fish. We did switch to 1/16th oz heads because they'd sink slower. No wind so feeling the bite was easy.

We didn't have anything to measure them so what went into the live well was for sure over 10- all of them were probably over 11. Bet we threw another 10 keepers back. That's ok... we caught enough for both of us to take a mess home.

Sorry no pics... It's hard taking pictures when you don't want to stop casting!

Hope this helps someone catch 'em. I know I won't be back over for quite a while.

Phil

Any local TAT shop can make sure you always have a measure device? Fathers Day is coming maybe a Gift Suggestion?

g