17 Jan Big Crappie tough bite

[Targa98]

Wish I had more to post but put in at Big M today and fished up towards Rock creek. Could not catch a walleye but Found a couple nice schools of crappie but they were very skittish. Only caught five all the same size. I would say over 14 in for sure. Small jigs in light colors is all I could get to work. They were all in 40 ft of water suspended around 20 by the time my jig would get to them they'd be gone and I'd have to chase them again. Oh well. Had 4 hours to fish and a meal to go with it so I can complain. Beautiful weather.

[Quillback]

Nothing wrong with getting 5 nice crappie.

[Bill Babler]

Did the same thing in I’m guessing near the same location about 10 days ago.  

If it’s the same spot there are a ton of deep tree tops and the fish are just running around out there like crazy. Schools of a dozen or more. 

If it’s the least bit breezy,  no way to keep up with them, and you pretty much have to fish up and down cause of the trees. Can’t just throw in front of a moving school. 

I think a guy could just spider rig out there with a depth set at 15’ to 18’ just above the trees with live bait and just gently drift and catch them. I might try it coming up. 

Appreciate the nice report. 
Good Luck




 

[Champ188]

Bill getting ready to spider rig ... 

[Bill Babler]

That is not as extreme as it looks. Pretty much right on🤪🤪🤪

[Champ188]

Had an older friend in Arkadelphia, Ark., near DeGray Lake who had pretty much given up bass chasing for crappie fishing. Was out fishing in one of the major creek arms on the lake one day and had seen this friend spider rigging out along the channel drop. Soon I heard the damndest bunch of banging around and cussing going on and wheeled around to see what was happening .... a school of hybrids (wipers) had swam directly under his big ol' SeaArk flatbottom and had totally wrecked his minnow spread. He had one on every dang rod (8 total) and they were breaking one pole after another. These things average 5 pounds and frequently reach 20 pounds in DeGray. He lost 5 rods and saved 3 once he finally thought of grabbing some scissors and cutting the lines. He was never a fan of hybrids and sure as heck wasn't after that. I fished until around midnight and laughed off and on the rest of the night about that. Talk about mayhem. LOL  

[Bill Babler]

I feel his pain. If you’re fishing deep 15’/25’ with them a good size white bass, catfish or black bass will pretty much ruin your day. 

Last Spring on Lake O, the small 2 to 5 pound blue cats caused me a lot of grief. 

I’ve got multiple snap swivels on mine and lots of pre tied hooked and weighted rigs. End of the day I usually have a nice little wad of these to dispose of. 

Even with that, it’s fun to watch those poles 3 or 4 times a year. Really wouldn’t want much more of it than that. 


 

[Targa98]

Some may argue and to each their own. This is on my very short list of hard to beat!!! Fresh Crappie and Homemade tartar sauce. Right next to fresh walleye and a nice ribeye. Something to be said about catching or killing your own food and reaping the benefit for days!!

[Johnsfolly]

1 hour ago, Targa98 said:

Some may argue and to each their own. This is on my very short list of hard to beat!!! Fresh Crappie and Homemade tartar sauce. Right next to fresh walleye and a nice ribeye. Something to be said about catching or killing your own food and reaping the benefit for days!!

Couldn't agree more with fresh caught fried fish (may debate the crappie vs other fish 😉) and homemade tartar sauce! Being able to harvest and then prepare wild fish and game is one of the best parts about our country.

[Quillback]

That spread looks mighty fine to me!