Off work, let's go fish.

[Lance34]

Got out for most of the day yesterday. I started out spider rigging in blue springs until the wind kicked it into high gear.

If you are looking for white bass go towards the back of blue springs about 50 yards before the last open wooden dock on the right and have at it. They love minnows. It was like work again with those things but man was it fun. I quit counting after 15.

I didn't have much luck spider rigging for crappie due to playing with the whites. Only caught two. Another fella I talked to was having better luck up towards the front spider rigging the rip rap area.

After breaking everything down. I headed up river fishing different pocket coves to avoid some of the wind. I tied on a silver and chartreuse shinee hinee with a bobber and fished thick brush and lay downs in 2-4 foot of water. I ended up catching 10 with six of them being some really nice ones.

Still haven't found them in a area to where they are bunched up yet and are more active. Having to be on the go a lot.

Great day yesterday. Going to get out again today at some point and head back up river to some other areas that I didn't have time to fish yesterday.

Here's a couple pics. The crappie was hardly hooked. He lifted the bobber straight up and I just lifted my rod and pulled lightly and dragged him to the boat. This is my favorite way to catch them by pulling them out of shallow cover.

[Dan Sweeney]

Nice. Heck of a day. I'm taking off a couple days next week mid week to chase whites and maybe crappie.

[J-Doc]

That black crappie is a beauty! I like the black ones. They are just a neat looking fish.

I've heard of crappie lifting the bobber. Man you've really got to be concentrating to see that and have calm water.

I was using a tight-lined crappie minnow on 6lb line with a B&M Sam's Super Sensitive jig pole and I had to REALLY focus to feel the bite in just 8-10ft of water directly below the boat. Crappie have the ability to suck in a bait so gently, you struggle to feel the bite sometimes. It's not even a bite. It just feels "different".

Nice job on the fish. I've got a few of those Arkie jigs myself and they are not working for me "yet". But I'm not giving up on them.

[nathanhooper]

What size minnows are you using for the whites? I have been using umbrella rigs, but figured that minnows might be easier.

[Notropis]

Looks like a good day fishing! Not to be argumentative, but I believe the fish is a white crappie (probably a male since they darken up during the spawn). Look at the vertical pigment bars on it's side, a characteristic of white crappie. A beautiful fish either way and a good day on the lake!

[YAKFM]

Nice work Lance! Good luck out there again today.

[J-Doc]

I always get them mixed up. You're probably right.

[Notropis]

It's easy to get them mixed up especially this time of year when the males are darkened up. The best way to tell them apart is by the vertical pigment bars and (if you have the fish in hand) counting the dorsal fin spines, 7 or more = black crappie, 6 or less = white.

[Lance34]

What size minnows are you using for the whites? I have been using umbrella rigs, but figured that minnows might be easier.

I always ask for medium size minnows at the bait shop. 2-2.5 inches long I say.

[Lance34]

That black crappie is a beauty! I like the black ones. They are just a neat looking fish.

I've heard of crappie lifting the bobber. Man you've really got to be concentrating to see that and have calm water.

I was using a tight-lined crappie minnow on 6lb line with a B&M Sam's Super Sensitive jig pole and I had to REALLY focus to feel the bite in just 8-10ft of water directly below the boat. Crappie have the ability to suck in a bait so gently, you struggle to feel the bite sometimes. It's not even a bite. It just feels "different".

Nice job on the fish. I've got a few of those Arkie jigs myself and they are not working for me "yet". But I'm not giving up on them.

Thanks,

I know what your saying about a different bite.

Some of the fish I have caught, have been like a weird resistance bite. To where I feel my line slide in my index finger. Either it gets tight or gets slack. No thump at all. I had the same bite feel in the fall a lot. So, I kind of know what to feel for now.

9 times out of 10 it's been a black crappie. Which I'm not surprised. They sometimes bite different than a white, due to their mouth size.

Hope that makes any since.

You might already do this:

I always hold my line between my index finger and my rod. It helps me feel that light bite better.

Another thing I did about a year ago and don't plan to go back is I switched to a 15# braid line on my dippin stick. I use Spiderwire Ultacast Invisi-Braid. It's helped me feel those light bites a lot better.

Hope their more of a thump the next trip out for you.