We tried to catch crappie

[MOPanfisher]

We gave it out best effort yesterday.  Buddy and I spent basically all day on LOZ, put in at Browns Bend and fished mostly the Rainey Creek area, then went upstream a ways exploring.  The fish were short but not in short supply.  Plenty of 8 inch or less crappie, and very willing to bite.  Finally quit with a total of 12 keepers (some were dang small keepers too) between us.  Kept a rod rigged for Whites but even with the wind they never showed up on any of the banks we were on.  Fish were suspended around the docks early on, but by noon they had settled to the bottom.  Some current early and late whether from the Bagnell end or Truman end I really don't know but definitely some flow out on the main body, not back in the coves.    jig colors, pearl was the most consistent but as I tired of catching little ones, I began to switch colors and never found much they would not hit.  hoping that some cooler water will move some bigger fish to the dock areas.

[buckcreekmike]

Sorry you didn't get more, but at least there sounds like there was plenty of action. 

I plan to go chasing crappie this weekend. Will be down around 7mm. Hope it turns on. 

[fishinwrench]

The crappie guys around the lower Gravois (clear water) have been doing good.  10-15' and sometimes as shallow as 6-8' suspended under docks.  

None that I know are using minnows, just jigs.

[WHARFRAT]

Yeah it's been tough for big fish this past month.  Hoping the next month and a half will change a bit.  If I'm not mistaken, though not quite this bad, last year was about the same until end of Oct thru Thanksgiving.  That's when the big blacks showed up higher in the water column.  Anyway, keep after them!

[MOPanfisher]

Oh I haven't given up, it was just the first exploratory trip.  I would much rather crappie fish than go deer hunting in November.

[buckcreekmike]

Buddy and I caught about 15 keeper crappie on Saturday mainly shooting docks. There were a few 14"+ fish in the mix. Bobby Garland baby shad with 1/16oz jig head were the ticket. 

[nomolites]

I trolled for crappie for a few hours sat afternoon pulling cranks in a creek arm; caught 19 with 15 good fish(10 - 14") with some coming out of the channel at 30' and others suspended above at 12'.  Went out this morning and it was a lot slower but picked up 7 good ones before I had to pack up and head home - had one bite above 30' and that was in the fog and the only one I had before it burned off.  Open water fish were scattered and deep but there were quite a few whites busting on top in the fog - caught a few pitching a 1/4 clown spoon into them.  It should be getting better daily.

Mike

[WHARFRAT]

Crappie fishing was better for me this weekend.  Sat morning caught some mainly sides and front of docks.  Couldn't go too far because of the heavy fog.  When the fog finally burned off I went to some of my regular spots.  Deep brush away from docks, fish were very scarce, and the ones I did catch were pretty small, just like in the past few weeks.  Since the sun was pretty bright, I went back to shooting docks.  Not the greatest, but noticed I was getting strikes before I closed the bale on my reel.  I figured it was black crappie, since they usually hang out higher in the water column than whites.  So I switched to a 32oz jighead with a 3" bait for a slow drop.  That was the ticket!  Size still wasn't great, but I was catching black crappie that were close to 11".   Kept a half dozen for my crappie bisque recipe for dinner later that night.

Sunday was pretty much the same, didn't get started out until after church, but still the black crappie were still close to the top.  I'd say no farther than 3-4' down.  Some would bite right at the surface.  No 12" fish, but a lot of fish in the 10-11.5" range.  Water warmed up back into the 70's on sunday.  Saturday found temps ranging from 67-69.

[MOPanfisher]

Size wasn't great, and then say they are on 11 inch black crappie!  Plenty big enough for me.  That's what I am waiting for, tossing a 32nd Oz jig as far under a dock as I can, and having one hit it within a couple feet of drop.  Sadly it's going to be a couple weeks before I can try them again.  Thanks for the report

 

[MOsmallies]

My father-in-law and friends caught probably 50-60 keepers off our dock alone this weekend. They only fished minnows. He had one 15"+ white crappie and a couple more in the 13-14" range. Most were over 10". Our dock is near the back of a large cove and sits in 10-15' of water with brush all around it.