Liveliner
Well-known member
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I went "just fishing" with Crappie in mind as the method to start fishing. I honestly lost count count of the Small Crappie both legal and too short that I released. I know there were many times the limit. The Water temps was bumping about 70 degrees and I was fishing in 10' of water and catching fish from 6' to 8' deep suspended ... I was fishing in only one location to do all this for the majority of my time ... I moved in a little closer to the bank and into 4' to 7' of water where I caught all of the larger Crappie. I got into what seemed to be an endless supply of large sized Bluegills where I anchored her down and just sat for hours catching fish. In the mix I was catching Yellow Perch.. The Perch were feeding right on thew bottom under the bluegills.. the Crappie were caught on a mix of BG and Live minnows. The Yellow Perch were 100% on minnows on or very near the bottom. </p>
I got the idea to go to a favorite Shell Cracker area I know of that is way back in a creek fed slough where you bass boats can not go. What with a 11' draft and my TM slinging air I had zero problems even in the small creek. I found my gravel bed covered with Cracker beds. I saw several real good crackers but did not catch any that I would consider good fish. Many of the Shell-Crackers I did catch were larger than some of the Bluegills I had in the boat but being what they are I released all the crackers. </p>
I think what messed up the cracker fishing is that I was using large minnows as bait in that shallow clear water and the stinking LM Bass would not leave me alone. There were several curious LM Bass that was following me as I fished. They were just sitting there within ten feet watching for a free handout. If I move, they moved... That was very interesting but their presents scattered the Crackers away from the beds and into cover where the big ones got Lock jaw... </p>
I ended up Keeping Six good sized Crappie about Half black and white out of a number I lost count of. </p>
I kept one dozen of the very largest of the Bluegills out of an endless supply that never slowed down. </p>
I kept Four of the biggest of about Ten Yellow perch. It has been years since I tasted these critters and Therefore I kept just enough for a good tasting. </p>
I caught one drum on a BG Monkey Milk. </p>
I think I actually caught four LM Bass as hard as I tried to avoid them and safely released all. The ones I caught were earlier in the day and not the Predators that were stalking me in the Cracker fields. </p>
I primarily was using live Toughie Minnows and casting BG Monkey Milk. </p>
That sun out there in the open got brutal on that day forecasted to be overcast. That was my reasoning to hit the woods for the Cracker beds. </p>
I do not have any info on eggs. I did not cut into any stomach cavities and therefore did not see any eggs.</p>
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I went "just fishing" with Crappie in mind as the method to start fishing. I honestly lost count count of the Small Crappie both legal and too short that I released. I know there were many times the limit. The Water temps was bumping about 70 degrees and I was fishing in 10' of water and catching fish from 6' to 8' deep suspended ... I was fishing in only one location to do all this for the majority of my time ... I moved in a little closer to the bank and into 4' to 7' of water where I caught all of the larger Crappie. I got into what seemed to be an endless supply of large sized Bluegills where I anchored her down and just sat for hours catching fish. In the mix I was catching Yellow Perch.. The Perch were feeding right on thew bottom under the bluegills.. the Crappie were caught on a mix of BG and Live minnows. The Yellow Perch were 100% on minnows on or very near the bottom. </p>
I got the idea to go to a favorite Shell Cracker area I know of that is way back in a creek fed slough where you bass boats can not go. What with a 11' draft and my TM slinging air I had zero problems even in the small creek. I found my gravel bed covered with Cracker beds. I saw several real good crackers but did not catch any that I would consider good fish. Many of the Shell-Crackers I did catch were larger than some of the Bluegills I had in the boat but being what they are I released all the crackers. </p>
I think what messed up the cracker fishing is that I was using large minnows as bait in that shallow clear water and the stinking LM Bass would not leave me alone. There were several curious LM Bass that was following me as I fished. They were just sitting there within ten feet watching for a free handout. If I move, they moved... That was very interesting but their presents scattered the Crackers away from the beds and into cover where the big ones got Lock jaw... </p>
I ended up Keeping Six good sized Crappie about Half black and white out of a number I lost count of. </p>
I kept one dozen of the very largest of the Bluegills out of an endless supply that never slowed down. </p>
I kept Four of the biggest of about Ten Yellow perch. It has been years since I tasted these critters and Therefore I kept just enough for a good tasting. </p>
I caught one drum on a BG Monkey Milk. </p>
I think I actually caught four LM Bass as hard as I tried to avoid them and safely released all. The ones I caught were earlier in the day and not the Predators that were stalking me in the Cracker fields. </p>
I primarily was using live Toughie Minnows and casting BG Monkey Milk. </p>
That sun out there in the open got brutal on that day forecasted to be overcast. That was my reasoning to hit the woods for the Cracker beds. </p>
I do not have any info on eggs. I did not cut into any stomach cavities and therefore did not see any eggs.</p>
