Chickamauga Crappie 2/11/06

[rsimms]

Slept in a little while to let the worst weather get by. We hit the lake about 10 am... still raining and sleeting some, but not too bad. Trolling tube jigs for crappie. Not a bad day... ended up with 22 keepers. Probably caught about a dozen or so small fish. I think it's an early bite... we had most of them before 1 pm. We were wishing we'd started earlier. After 1 pm that it was real slow. Me and DHaun are going to hit 'em again in the morning. Hopefully we won't freeze to death! emoQuestion

 

[jason]

So when's the fish fryemoBigsmile?

 

[Jmax]

Hey rsimms how deep were those crappie you were catching I went today and found some nice ones but they were very deep.emoCool Jmax

 

[rsimms]

Most 8-10 feet.... just proves that fish are where you find 'em!

 

[2jigs]

What color tubes were you gettin them on Richard, if it's not beeing to nosy. I always do well on blue & silver this time of year. An my buddy does well with like a yellow head & chartreuse but I can't catch them on it. Darnnedest thing ya ever seen. I guess if you don't have any confidence in a bait iy's no good.emoScratch

 

[Jmax]

Thanks for the info rsimms were they in water that was that deep or were you fishing in water deeper and they were suspended? Did you use a double rig or a single, any weight and what size line do you use? Were they out in the flats, on a bluff or on a lake drop off? I never have done well trolling it seems my line catches too much water and runs up. I have done fairly well drift fishing slowly bouncing them off the bottom. I was just wondering your technique of how you do it. I would like to improve my crappie skills. The only time I ever really rip um is when they are getting ready to spawn or right before like now.emoCool Jmax

 

[polo-dog]

Very profound Richard, very profound. You must be in the writing business.emoScratch

 

[rsimms]

Jmax - 2/12/2006 7:02 AM

Thanks for the info rsimms were they in water that was that deep or were you fishing in water deeper and they were suspended? Did you use a double rig or a single, any weight and what size line do you use? Were they out in the flats, on a bluff or on a lake drop off? I never have done well trolling it seems my line catches too much water and runs up. I have done fairly well drift fishing slowly bouncing them off the bottom. I was just wondering your technique of how you do it. I would like to improve my crappie skills. The only time I ever really rip um is when they are getting ready to spawn or right before like now.emoCool Jmax

water 8-10 feet deep (right now, not always the case)... on a flat, no definitive structure... single jigs (1/16th oz), no weight added, 6 lb. test.... troll SLOW, trolling motor, NOT outboard. I use a GPS and if I ever get above 1 mph, I'm going too fast. Prefer 0.8 mph.

 

[fisherpal2k]

emoUpsmile way to go polo dog. I was wondering if I was the only one that got it. Keep up the good work Rsimms. Now be a little more specific.... flats? what flats?

 

[rsimms]

Aww, come on now... I don't want to take all the fun out of it for you. But I'll say I've used the same technique in virtually every creek on Chickamauga (and some on the Hiwassee arm). And while recent fish have been holding on a flat, many times we'll catch just as many (or more) trolling actual creek channels 12 to 18 feet deep. Usually however, those creek channels are fairly non-distinct... no really sharp dropoffs or anything. Trolling is a different philosophy... many crappie anglers target specific groups of fish on specific structure. And of course, if the fish are there, it works great. The philosophy in trolling is to cover a LOT of water... me and DHaun on Sunday trolled nearly six miles (in one area). With six rods in six hours we covered what I call "36 lure miles." You try covering 36 lure miles making one cast at a time and you'll be a wore out puppy. It's basically impossible. As one of my friends says, "when you're trolling it doesn't really matter where you go, as long as you keep going."

 

[polo-dog]

Great info rsimms. I don't target crappies often but I like to understand how to fish for them and understand their movements. Do you see them on your electronics while you are fishing or do you just know where they should be at this time of year or both. Do you mark any bait in the area? Do you use the possitioning of the bait to decide which flats to fish or do you just put out baits and hope that they are there and active?

 

[rsimms]

polo-dog - 2/15/2006 12:57 PM

Great info rsimms. I don't target crappies often but I like to understand how to fish for them and understand their movements. Do you see them on your electronics while you are fishing or do you just know where they should be at this time of year or both. Do you mark any bait in the area? Do you use the possitioning of the bait to decide which flats to fish or do you just put out baits and hope that they are there and active?

Occasionally see fish on depth finder, but I do not depend on it because typically they are scattered. No, do not typically mark bait... typically do the latter, put out baits and go. Select areas based upon "previous history."

And for what's it's worth, I spoke with a TWRA Creel Clerk yesterday (he's a guy who gets paid to talk to fishermen to see what they've caught). He says that to-date the crappie fishing (compared to same time of year) has been significantly down from years past.