Evening Crappie Bite April 28

[Johnsfolly]

I finally got back to Missouri Sat morning. I decided to get out in the evening to try to catch my first crappie for 2018. It's been a weird year and I didn't know what to expect. Would they still be near the banks, have they spawned yet, who knows. I have fished this lake for many years and this was the first time that I did not see brush piles at the attractor locations. Usually the piles are big enough to break the surface. Fishing along the riprap on the dam side could be hit or miss without that brush congregating the fish. I only had a 7' Microlite rod with 4# Pline Fluoroclear line. I also had a couple of 1/64 oz beveled jig heads and a dozen or so plastic bodies. I have had great luck with a black and green jig body on this lake. Though some might think that this jig setup looks like crap , I consistently catch crappie with it. I put on a float about 14 " above the jig and was in business.

I headed to the far side of the dam because there looked to be a bit of cedar brush in the water. That cedar brush was a remnant from last year's attractor pile and was right on the bank. The wind was blowing towards the dam. A windy day can be tough on my float and jig combo. The water was very clear for this lake. I made a couple of casts and just got one or two light curiosity nips. I cast out in front and past the brush, got a solid bite, and reeled in a bluegill. Not what I was hoping for but I wasn't getting skunked. I fan casted out from the brush and beyond. I caught six more bluegill all from a 6 by 6 foot area just off and beyond that small cedar.

At 7 pm I caught sight of a sea monster just off the bank. With my light line I did not try to entice this fish. I did not get a photo as it cruised past me but I did make a call or two to discuss this encounter.  Apparently the fisherman that came down the bank tried to hook it and it broke him off. I don't know if he snagged the fish or it bit his baits. I was planning on going out Sun evening with heavier gear and hoping that this guy did not spook this fish too much.

Back to panfishing. I moved down the bank and fished where there was a brush pile last year. As the sun was setting the wind laid down. It was prime time. I made my first cast over the old brush and caught a small white crappie. Then another on the next cast. I don't rely on coloration to id white or black crappie. I actually look at the shape of the head of the fish and count their dorsal spines. Whites have a narrower head and black crappie head tend to be more rounded and look more like bluegill. Whites also have 5 to 6 dorsal spines and blacks have 7 to 8 spines.

I typically catch nearly all white crappie on this lake and most range from 6 to 8 inches in length. So I was surprised when I caught two black crappie in a row. Then I caught a nearly all black male. Looked like a Raiders fan! Pulled the phone out for a photo but not enough charge for a photo. I know that there are those that state that if there are no photos then it didn't happen. Since one of the OAFers that insists on photos helped drain my battery when I called him earlier maybe he would give me sone slack on this post ! 

After that first all black, I caught four other dark males two of which were over 9 inches in length and three nice females full of eggs and also over 9 inches. The sun had set and I was still getting bit whenever I cast over that old pile. I needed two more crappie for an even 20 but the last three fish caught iver the pile were sunfish. I headed to the dock. Just before 9 pm I caught two more white crappie and two bluegill off of the dock. I ended the night with 15 bluegill, 2 green sunfish, 4 white crappie, and 16 blacks. And had an encounter with a sea monster that is still out there! Not a bad evening bite!

[BilletHead]

               Mrs. BilletHead and I hope you get another encounter with the Leviathan you seen and get him to hit. Pictures please ,

BilletHead 

[Johnsfolly]

Not this evening unfortunately. Had a south wind blowing from the dam out into the lake. Seems like a northeast or northwest wind brings out the beast. I'll keep an eye on the wind the next couple of days. Took Livie out tonight. I'll set up a post after I get a couple of photos edited.

[Optimus512]

What do you mean by far end of the dam? I want to see this sea monster!

[Johnsfolly]

4 hours ago, Optimus512 said:

What do you mean by far end of the dam? I want to see this sea monster!

The opposite end from the docks.

Last night I got out with my daughter. I tried to get on the big fish that I saw in the shallows on Sat. As I mentioned above no sightings or opportunity at a big fish in the shallows. It was also a n off night for the crappie as well. Livie caught the first fish, a small largemouth bass and the sun was starting to set (not made for a great photo). This actually was her first bass of the year.

I put her in the spot where I had caught those nearly black male black crappie Sat evening. On her second cast she hooked a big black male and it threw the hook just as she was lifting the fish. She never did land one, but lost at least two more. She did end up landing a female black crappie and some bluegill and green sunfish.

I did land a couple of the males, but none were as dark as the two that I caught Sat evening. Still they were striking fish.