Quest for Knowledge....Crappie tactics for Bull Shoals and lake Norfork...

[N9BOW]

Lets start with .. I'm not asking for your Honey Holes... (I'll figure that out myself!.. beside I have already mapped out some promising spots depending on lake levels)

There are times you have to acknowledge you don't know bunk about a particular quarry you're after....

Other than (catching hundreds in the past not on purpose)  running a big Paddle wheel Barge Harvestor , cutting and removing Eurasian Watermilfoil, coontail, Broadleaf pond weed, Small leaf pond weed in lakes and reservoirs on the East Coast., I  don't know anything about targeting Crappie, and would appreciate whatever you might care to share targeting this species in the (Winter Months).

Now that they are closing off.... Nov 1 access to the walk here at Bull Shoals, I want to target Crappie in the Yak/Boat on the lake.
I want to learn a new "Skill-set".... that puts tasty morsels in the "Skill-et" ... Your insight would be appreciated!

 

Eric - N9BOW

[Ham]

We need to go chase them together a few times

[Ham]

There are multiple ways to get it done on BSL, but be aware that the upper lake fishes different from mid lake and very differently from the lower lake.

The most consistent bite is brush piles. We have to figure out what depth range they want that day. 
 

Boat docks work Spring and Fall. You'll find docks that work for you consistently. The shade and cover they provide is huge. It seems that some work in the morning and some work in the afternoon so keep good notes.

The Spring Spawn is a thing, but I'm always doing something else. Not sure why.

there is also a shallow fall bite. Any wood in 5-15 wood ow water is a possible hangout for them.

There are times vertical cover on bluffs holds some really nice fish.

Water is in general too clear to jig pole them, but I still try from time to time. 

 

 

[Quillback]

What Ham says on brush piles - I don't fish for them myself, but I know someone that is catching them now on Table Rock on brush piles.  He's got an inventory of piles that have produced for him and he just cycles through them.  

[LittleRedFisherman]

On 10/23/2021 at 1:32 PM, Ham said:

We need to go chase them together a few times

Y’all don’t forget me!  Lol.  Boat docks and brush piles obviously are great spots.  Brush piles near boat docks are even better.  Red and black jigs are hard to beat.  Live shiners are great and if you can find some Rosie reds don’t hesitate to get some.  
 

Ham and I found a spot the other day 

[Bill Jr.]

Nice! I'm going down next weekend with a couple friends to see if the crappie and whatever else are still biting.  I'll post a report good or bad.

[MrGiggles]

Brush piles hold crappie year round. Which ones depend on the time of year. Mouths of coves and main lake for winter/summer, and in coves near spawning grounds in the spring and fall. 

If brush piles aren't producing in the winter, you can also follow the river channel and look for schools of shad with your side imaging. Get right on top of them and drop a spoon, jig and plastic, or jigging rap into it. Don't be surprised if you hook a white or walleye.

Slow is the name of the game in the winter. While fishing brush, I'll get right over the top of the pile, drop a jig down in it, and pull it up half a crank at a time, pausing in between. They'll usually thump it on the pause. You'll want weedless jigs, and a rod that's sensitive enough for you to be able to tell the difference between a limb and a crappie. If you're getting caught on a limb on the way up, don't jerk, let the jig fall a little bit and try again, it'll come through. If you sink the hook in, you'll never get it back.

Brush piles are a lot of trial and error, if you aren't getting anything on one pile, hit the next one and keep moving. If you haven't, load the MDC waypoints onto your graph. Many don't have signs, and it makes them way easier to find even if they do.

Standing timber along the river channel can be dynamite in the winter too. Don't forget bridge pilings either.

[Terrierman]

For a man of your means, livescope is not out of reach.  And from what I read and hear, it's the ultimate in finding and catching crappie day in and day out.

[Ham]

5 hours ago, Terrierman said:

For a man of your means, livescope is not out of reach.  And from what I read and hear, it's the ultimate in finding and catching crappie day in and day out.

It's a freaking game changer 

[Bill Jr.]

well had to cancel the trip this weekend so no report from me.  Good luck to anyone getting after them this weekend.  should be some nice fall weather.