Finally

[WHARFRAT]

One more busy weekend before, we as fishermen, start to get the lake back.  Though is seems the bigger boats are staying out later and later, but it will dwindle down each week.  Here on the lower end of the  Big Niangua, boats are getting bigger and bigger.  Doesn't seem like long ago, 28-30' boats were about as big as we saw, with a few exceptions.  Now, not counting the 4 or 5 cigarette boats running back and forth,  35 to 40+ footers are getting more common.  The wakes are just tearing up the docks and shorelines.    I know of one 40 footer, and the driver really doesn't know how to drive it.  I don't think he's being a smart a$$ or anything, I just don't know if he realizes common courtesy rules or in the matter nav rules and regs.    But hopefully, all this is going to die down and us under 20' boats can enjoy the lake without getting beat up.

That being said,  crappie fishing around docks are starting to pick up.  I've been catching quite a few, though most have been under 10".  Find shade of the docks and brush, they seem to be hanging right on top of it.  I would assume they are  busting into the shad, though I haven't cleaned any, their bellies look pretty full.  Had to get away from the blue ice color and go back to blk/chart.  But, I guessing the better ones will be showing up soon.  Found water 82-83 degrees, fish have been biting about 6-7' down.  Better fish just a bit deeper.

[nomolites]

I watched some of those guys shooting during the crappie masters event earlier in the year and it was pretty impressive.  I might have to stink it up a little learning that technique this fall....seemed the farther back under they got it, the bigger the slab.  I've got a glass rod that should work..

Mike

 

[Old plug]

20 minutes ago, nomolites said:

I watched some of those guys shooting during the crappie masters event earlier in the year and it was pretty impressive.  I might have to stink it up a little learning that technique this fall....seemed the farther back under they got it, the bigger the slab.  I've got a glass rod that should work..

Mike

 

It is really easy to learn.  Just stand in thr back yard and practice shooting under a chair. My advice though is not to branch out to far to shooting other stuff. I tried that with wacky worms and they are a control nightmare they skip they skip way to much ,they, whey might jump instead and might end up anywhere in the framing of the dock.

[WHARFRAT]

Shooting docks are not as hard as it looks.  A decent rod helps.  I prefer a Med-Lite rod with fast tip.  I shoot with a 7 footer, but have used them all from 5.5' to 7'.  Two problems I had when I started out: 1. got too close to the dock. 2. tried to load up the rod too much.  

I never really practiced too much off the water.  The best place to practice are on the wide openings of a swim dock, or just in an empty boat stall.  When you gain confidence then you can go between the lift tanks and the docks.  You'll still hang up, but hopefully not too much.

Some of the best plastics that skip pretty good are:  BG baby shad and slab slayers.  Slab busters, and Muddy Water baits.  Or anything resembling them.  I fish mainly with 16oz heads, but sometime they'll want a slower drop, so go lighter.  4 to 6lb hi-vis line works great.  You've really got to watch the line.  It'll either hop! Or it will go limp before you know its reached the bottom. 

[Flatbottom Boy]

3 hours ago, WHARFRAT said:

Shooting docks are not as hard as it looks.  A decent rod helps.  I prefer a Med-Lite rod with fast tip.  I shoot with a 7 footer, but have used them all from 5.5' to 7'.  Two problems I had when I started out: 1. got too close to the dock. 2. tried to load up the rod too much.  

I never really practiced too much off the water.  The best place to practice are on the wide openings of a swim dock, or just in an empty boat stall.  When you gain confidence then you can go between the lift tanks and the docks.  You'll still hang up, but hopefully not too much.

Some of the best plastics that skip pretty good are:  BG baby shad and slab slayers.  Slab busters, and Muddy Water baits.  Or anything resembling them.  I fish mainly with 16oz heads, but sometime they'll want a slower drop, so go lighter.  4 to 6lb hi-vis line works great.  You've really got to watch the line.  It'll either hop! Or it will go limp before you know its reached the bottom. 

Are you glueing the bodies of the slab busters onto the jig head? It seems like I get several shots on a dock and Im fixing the body every cast. I switched to a hollow tube with the jig head inserted and that seems to work very well.

[WHARFRAT]

17 minutes ago, Flatbottom Boy said:

Are you glueing the bodies of the slab busters onto the jig head? It seems like I get several shots on a dock and Im fixing the body every cast. I switched to a hollow tube with the jig head inserted and that seems to work very well.

I have glued before, but I don't really have too much of a problem, eventually when you catch a few with the same jig, it gets worn a bit and will slide down.  Usually that indicates I need a new body.  I also use #1 or #2 sickle hooks on the  16oz, and #4 hooks on 32nd oz.. 

I personally don't like tubes for shooting.  For me, they don't skip as well.  Might just be me.  A friend of mine uses them all the time.  But I still think I can shoot farther than him with my solid body plastics.

Concerning slab busters and BG slab slayers.  I really like the action of the baits, but the tail is really thin and its easy to have the tail turn around and get stuck on the hook.  That's what I like about Muddy Water baits, they don't do that.  But I wish they would make a 2" bait.

[fishinwrench]

I mastered shooting docks, even rigged a rod specifically for doing it.  Then I decided that it was too much work for CRAPPIE.  I'll load up on crappie fillets when they are up on the bank and/or easy to get around shallow brush....then I'm done crappie fishing for awhile.  I don't get the fascination that some guys have with crappie that keeps them chasing them all year long.    Be darn if I'm gonna target them in 25-30 FOW or start trolling crankbaits and winching them in.    They just aren't that fun to catch, and I can only eat so many.  

[96 CHAMP]

I'm looking forward to getting my boat back and getting her running and get into some fall fishing, with the new job of Sunday and Monday off I ought to have the lake in some what of a peacefull  time this fall. Like you say if these big boats get off the lake it will be nice.

[Flatbottom Boy]

42 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

I mastered shooting docks, even rigged a rod specifically for doing it.  Then I decided that it was too much work for CRAPPIE.  I'll load up on crappie fillets when they are up on the bank and/or easy to get around shallow brush....then I'm done crappie fishing for awhile.  I don't get the fascination that some guys have with crappie that keeps them chasing them all year long.    Be darn if I'm gonna target them in 25-30 FOW or start trolling crankbaits and winching them in.    They just aren't that fun to catch, and I can only eat so many.  

Well like you said one time..some of us "live for the thump"! 

[fishinwrench]

9 minutes ago, Flatbottom Boy said:

Well like you said one time..some of us "live for the thump"! 

The "tick".  

Yeah I dig the tick, just wish they fought harder, jumped, or did something that could keep my interest longer.