New Crappie Fisherman on Beaver Lake

[Slabster]

I recently moved near the lake around Hickory Creek Marina.  I just started actively fishing about 3 months ago when I finally got through with 3 years of working about 60 to 80 hours per week. I am trying to rehab from that stress and learn how to fish for Crappie in Beaver Lake.  I have been doing some trolling and caught a few, but now am trying to learn how to spider rig tops.  So far,  with the wind and the challenges of multiple long rods, I have caught one decent fish with my mini-spider right set-up. With the crappie now moving to the brush tops, I am at a loss to figure out where they are in this large lake.  

Now, I am not asking anyone to share with me any specifics about where those tops are located, but just the general area of the lake where I might find them.  For instance, the area of the lack near Horse Shoe Bend or Prairie Creek.  Maybe you just share with me that I need to put out my own tops because there are so few in this lake that you have to create your own fish habitat.  Anyway, hoping I can get some help. I have the depth finders to go searching, but so far, I find lots of bare timber and no tops where the crappie like to hang-out.  So, if anyone wants to share any general information, then it would be appreciated.

Finally, I just signed up on this forum, and I will contribute what I can as new member just beginning to learn the lake.

Looking forward to joining the conversations about various matters related to fishing Beaver Lake.

BTW, I don't fish tournaments.

 

[Fish Hound]

Slabster, I am fairly new to fishing Beaver for about 3 years now and like to catch just about all species. I am master of none but I had my most luck on crappies as most people do during spring spawn. I did OK trolling flats off of river channels this summer. I have found some bluffs that have timber that will hold crappies most of the year. I need to expand out and get more up into the mid lake area as mostly fish around War Eagle cove and point 12. It is great in the spring run but during summer seems like they all move north to clearer, cooler water.  I have never tried spider rigging as haven't invested in the longer poles and holders but from what I have seen/heard is a very productive way. A big white or hybrid that comes along can really get the excitement level up with all those lines out. Lance that posts on here is probably the most knowledgeable on crappie. I think the core of engineers or fish and game have sunk some brush piles and attractors but I have not been able to find coordinates for them. They probably get hit pretty hard if locations are out there. Good luck

[Slabster]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll let you know if I make any progress.

[Quillback]

Welcome Slabster - Scroll down on the main page to the Beaver lake forum, there's some crappie info in that forum.  Introduce yourself to those folks and they'll probably give you some general pointers.