crappie

[big red crappie]

Going to be headed to robins resort for our annual family vacation. We will be getting there on the 19th. Was wondering the best way to catch some crappie. Any info would be appreciated

[WHARFRAT]

The week of the 19th? Should be able to throw just about anything a catch em. Find structure around back of docks, next to seawall, near the banks. Should be anywhere from a foot to 3 foot. But ----- that depends on what the weather does between now and then. But you still should be able to catch a bunch!

[BCBPII]

I'm down her now at the 13 mm and having a tough time finding them...Got two 12 inchers this morning at about the 10mm but cant put anything together. Went up to just in the Grav and the water temp was 55 but no takers. Anybody got anything?

[rblackburn]

Was talking with a guy at the grocery store and he was saying that he was having success around the 16mm in 12-14 feet with a red and orange tube jig. Hear say, so I don't know the validity to his claim. I've been having success on almost anything pink and white or black and chartreuse up here on the Big Niangua, different conditions though.

Happy Fishing!

[fishinwrench]

Ameren is pulling the lake down pretty hard and that's not helping the bank bite out at all !

You might try fishing the 7-12' brushpiles, but until the lake level starts back upward I imagine the crappie bite will remain kinda slow.

The wiggle wart and hula-grub (bass bite) is darn good though.

[BCBPII]

Thank you for the reply. I was expecting easy pickin but you know how that goes. Got a feeling this front might have something to do with it. Going back out in a few.Try a couple different spots. I have been throwing the Storm 1/8 oz wild eye shad and tore them up on it last yr but two fish yesterday and today on it and I have tried a few other baits. Getting ready to get some minnows I guess.

[Flatbottom Boy]

I'm by no means an expert like Wrench but I don't think you need to mess around with minnows. take a trip to Walmart and trade in those big ole 1/8th ounce lures for some tride and true tubes. A 1/16 head with red/white, black/chart, or blue/white are usually hard to beat anywhere on the lake. Sure we all have hundreds of colors but those three combinations are the ones I have had the most luck on. If you are still having problems throw on a float and try to keep the bait in the strike zone a little longer. Remember the crappie typically feeds up so start fairly high in the water column and work your way down until you find what depth they are at. Just keep your float at that depth and tear em up! Good luck I hope you find them.

[BCBPII]

Ameren is pulling the lake down pretty hard and that's not helping the bank bite out at all !

You might try fishing the 7-12' brushpiles, but until the lake level starts back upward I imagine the crappie bite will remain kinda slow.

The wiggle wart and hula-grub (bass bite) is darn good though.

I thought what you had been saying about water level was in play. I noticed she did come up some throughout the day. It was slow!Roger on the second tip!

[dennisduckhunter]

Caught 20 today in the back end of Indian Creek kept 12

3 to 4 foot of water

1/32 ounce jig with curly tail red/ char ,white/ char + crappie nibble

Water temperature 60°

[WHARFRAT]

On the Niangua arm, it seems like the males are just starting to stage close to the bank. Still catching decent size females deeper. Males are just starting to get darker. I'd say it's a good week before things get going on this end.