Kings River - Hickory Hollow access - Tuesday April 7

[Crappie Fisherman]

Had a good day of fishing, we brought home some nice sized crappie, had to work hard for every one of them. Up and down Kings, fished south banks where we got strikes, let the wind push us and then circle back and start again until the bites stopped.

Started around 9:30, left at 5:30. Caught majority of the fish from 10:30 - 2:00 in 3 - 5 foot of water, most were under or nearby some of the floating debris. Water was almost back to normal green with pools of muddy brown here and there. Water temps varied from 58 - 60. Caught most on a 1/16 oz chartreuse jig with pink and chartreuse tube. Crappie bites seemed to be spread out and no two where close together. Is this the pre-spawn activity I have read about? With the wind aided trolling I tossed out a live minnow & bobber off the back of the boat, it didn't see any action, have a friend who kills it with the minnow/trolling method, but maybe that's after the spawn?

Looking to go once or twice in the next week, any tips or insight to yesterdays trip is appreciated.

[Crappie Fisherman]

Had an almost identical day up Long and Cricket Creek today. The floating debris was definitely the key for scratching out a couple limits. The other fish were one per tree or log, if you were lucky you might get two in the same spot. All were caught in 3-8 feet of water hanging tight to wood. A few small males were right on the bank, but all by themselves.