Long Creek Crappie

[Phil Lilley]

Put in at Long Creek Ramp at 4 p.m. and boated up (left from ramp).  Hit a few old spots - first one produced a nice keeper right off the bat.  Lost another, then the spot went cold.  Moved around, nothing.  Tried another spot, nothing.  Then went to good spot #2 and found a real hot spot - caught 4 real quick.  Noticed baby thread fin against this bank and the crappie were under them.  Moved around and caught another.  Went back to spot #1 and caught 3 more keepers. Ended with 8.

Didn't have to measure any... all over 12 inches.  Haven't cleaned them yet- they're in a live tank so I don't know what they are but I bet males.

Caught all but one on a smoke swimming minnow on a 1/16th oz head.  58-59 degree water.  I caught most within 8 feet of the bank in 4-8 feet of water, a few out from the bank in 15 feet suspended.  Really none on brush.

Spot #1 has a green MDC structure sign in the back, 3 cuts from the ramp on the left bank and spot #2 also has a sign and it's the first cut on the left.  Both are kind of corners...  I caught them close to the signs but that wasn't why I fished either spot... I've done well on those banks before they put the brush there.

Pattern?  Not really any pattern... just covered a lot of area and made a lot of casts.

Oh yea... caught 15 stinkin' bass too, mostly dinks.

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[Champ188]

Thanks for the good report, Phil. Enjoy the feed. 

[Walleyedmike]

38 minutes ago, Phil Lilley said:

Oh yea... caught 15 stinkin' bass too, mostly dinks.

They drive me crazy too. And Champ thinks Missouri should stock them??

[dan hufferd]

There should be some walleye in there too.

[Phil Lilley]

I've always admired "that old guy" that goes out and fishes all day, takes his time and covers a lot of water looking for that crappie bite and ends up with his limit most of the time.  First, I've never had that kind of time to spend on the water and second, I haven't the patience to cover water - I tend to hit a spot here and there and then get frustrated.  But yesterday... I became "that old guy" and was pretty happy with the results.

[IL Fisherman]

I'm becoming that old guy to Phil.   I have no desire to fly 70 mph spot to spot and fish 5 minutes each spot.  My grandfather took me fishing a lot.  We would pull up on a spot and he would look at his watch.  "30 minutes or we are moving he would say"  No fish 30 minutes later we moved and did it all over again.  I fish for enjoyment and relaxation.  Don't get me wrong, I want to catch em.   Thanks for the report.

[Guest]

Ive been catching them 3-5ft deep on bobber rigs & minnows around the deeper buck brush. 

[Ketchup]

Nice detailed report Phil.  Even giving away the exact locations. Now thats a guy that isnt scared someone is going to come fish "his" spots.  My red boat will be anchored shortly.  😀

[vernon]

Well, you'd think the least a guy could do is provide GPS coordinates with the photos.

Geez, what a homer.

😜

[Johnsfolly]

Congrats Phil! Thanks for the report. Nothing like the rewards of putting in some time to catch a limit of nice crappie!