Spider rigging was like work yesterday

[Lance34]

Can't confirm it again.  Being that the two I lost where stripers or not but one pulled line off for a country mile until it came off and the other I  got all the way to the boat until it straighten my hook.  This one looked longer than the 24-26 inchers I've been able to land.  I have some number 2 size octopuses hook rigs tied up.  I just don't have faith in them with catching crappie.  Seem like I miss bites when I tried to use them.  

Ok here's report. 

Had all day yesterday off from work so I got started up river earlier than normal.  About 9:30 water temp when I started was 52 and when I quit about 3:30 it was 56.  Water color, let's call it dingy.  Started out spider rigging.  Figured cold night going push them back out.  It took me about an hour to zero in on them.  But, once I found the area where they where hanging it got pretty busy.   Meaning fish flopping in the floor, rods all over the place, hooks needing minnows, it became about like work.  

Everything was hanging around 15-18 feet of water and about 12 feet down along kind of a sandy rocky 45 degree bank.  If that makes since..

I quit spider rigging about noon and went and picked up my dad to see if we could find any black crappie in shallow lay downs along the bank.  

Started further on up river in a small muddy creek.  Caught 10 but they where all just touching 10" or just under.  And, that's  how the afternoon went.  Caught more bream, and little bitty bass than anything

Ended up boating 30 crappie and 3 decent whites bass. with 10 crappie being good eaters and the rest being a little too short of being 10" or just over.  Either way I toss anything less than 12" back.  

More effective for me pushing minnows yesterday, but wanted to try and let my dad pull some from the thick shallow stuff.  Maybe next week.

Bait used.  Minnows trolling, arkie shineee hineee silver chartreuse, bobby garland baby shad cajun cricket and lights out dipping lay downs.  

Be safe and patient out there, lots of boat traffic.  Have a Happy Easter.  

Here's a  couple pics. A  Good eater and little eater liking my hineee. 

 

 

 

[Vinsott]

Great detailed report. I just don't have the patience for crappie fishing.  I really don't think its the lack of patience, more the lack of confidence in what I'm doing when it comes to crappie. Always enjoy your reports.

[Dan the fisherman]

Good job Lance.  Ur on a roll....  I thought about fishing up that way yesterday but by the time I got to point 12 and the water was still super muddy I decided to head back down river.   Awesome day though Lance.  Keep it up. 

[Lance34]

 

Great detailed report. I just don't have the patience for crappie fishing.  I really don't think its the lack of patience, more the lack of confidence in what I'm doing when it comes to crappie. Always enjoy your reports.

Thanks,  I totally understand..  Their a finicky fish to figure out.  What are you trying?  Maybe we all can get you heading in a more confident direction.   That's what this forum is for to me anyway and  that's why I report to share what I'm doing to see what others are trying.. 

[Vinsott]

I think one problem I have is my boat.  If there is wind,( which when I go is always) my barge, I mean tritoon is very hard to keep positioned with the trolling motor. I don't have a linked trolling motor to keep me positioned but even in light wind its like trying to keep a sail straight. I just might be a bad captain, but when I see smaller flat and V hulls around they have no problem.  I have usually tried with bobby garland type jigs, but have caught as many on a ned rig but not consistent. My boat is on the water so I usually don't travel too far from home port due to distance and slow speed of toon.