Fishing Forum

OK, here's the senario:

I'm fishing around a bridge and the water has a moderate current, enough current to make a light weight jig near impossible to use. I'm casting a beetle spin around the boat while i'm catfishing, and I catch a nice crappie. Mmmmm, I ask myself........"SELF, crappie are a schooling fish, so there must be more down there right?" So, I continue to cast away, no more hits. I change colors.........no hits. I try a jig around the boat at different depths, but the current is a little too strong for jigging around the boat; I still tried it, and no hits. A bobber and live minnows would be out of the question with the current.

Is there another option that i'm over-looking? I'm not much of a crappie fisherman, but fishing is pretty basic, and I have a pretty good understanding of how crappie opporate; however, i'm having a heck of a time producing quality numbers of them when I locate a school. Any suggestions for this time of year?

The area i'm fishing goes as follows:

Mid-sized river with Moderate current, not too strong. black water averaging around 3 to 6 foot in depth with 8 to 16 foot drop offs common. Water Temp is trending between 65 and 68 degrees depending on the weeks air temp and amount of rain. Bottom structure consists mainly of a coarse sand and the banks are covered with cypress knees and plenty of structure.
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well, im no crappie expert! but, id probably drop shot a jig. good luck! im sure someone will give you the info you need.
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Here's my take on a fresh idea, tie on a crank bait of your choice/color/depth range that you think will get you where you want in the current. Remove the back treble and tie on a 2'-4' leader and slap on the small crappie jig of your choice. (top the jig with a berkley crappie nibblet if you like) If the current is slack enough, make some cast. If not, let the current pull it down to where you might want it.
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That is one smooth "fresh Idea!" I never thought of that EZOP. I take it you've done this in the past. I'll be sure and give that one a try. Thanks bro. [cool]
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EZOP's technique is quite successfull, a variation on that is to use a worm(natural or artificial) on the trailer hook or jig. Also, don't give up on the float just becuase there is a moderate current. Crappie can fall for a float and fly, or nymph under a bubble rig as well.

If you can toss your float rig right along the edge of the cyprus(if it is submerged) and/or structure, then let it drift with the current - that can also be productive.

Depending on the water temp and time of year, crappie may not be inclined to give much of a chase to your offering. Those factors also will determine how closely the fish will be schooled, so, that said, check the drift/current speed - often times, you need to almost hit the crappie in the face.

Drifting your set up past a line of submerged brush, allows you to cover a lot of water with just one cast. Another thing that can help is to change up the offering and the depth that you present it. Crappie will feed in the entire water column at different times. They also, like most fish, have a very varied diet and will take many kinds of offerings.
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have nothing new to add...but...[]

I would just duplicate what you did to catch the frist crappie. I have caught a few "solo" crappie on occasion and threw everything i had available to catch the 'rest of the pack'.

I think most folks who do their homework know that they tend to run in schools, but i'm not sure they read the some material that we do...lol. [shocked]
If your presentation worked for one, then it should work for others, if they are in the area...who knows?

cyas
rc

LOL, I wish the fish would read the books i've been reading.

Actually, when I do land a fish on a specific rig, I don't change rigs until i've worked the successful set up for an ample amount of time. If the same retrieve doesn't work, i'll change it. Next, i'll change the color, next the lure. Something about the first lure worked, rather it was the action, color, sound, or a combo of either/or. Sometimes it's just a matter of getting the lure right in their face and they strike out of territorial instinct.

I actually went to the river today, and not a bite. No one has caught a fish for the last three days. The last place I stopped on the river was under the bridge. I could see the fish around the pilons, and I know they were crappie, but I couldn't get a hit. Maybe next time. LOL, that's fishin'
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