Crappie ???

[kj]

I have never fished for crappie. I'd like to try them. I hear they are great eating. Any thoughts?
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[chuckh]

[size 2]Well kj, you've heard right, Crappie are GREAT eating. []

Unfortunately, I haven't found any good Crappie fishing since Pine View's Crappie population dropped off quite a few years ago. []

They are great fun to catch, especially on an ultra light outfit. Down south they are also called 'Paper Mouth' because of the paper thin membrane that they're mouths are made of. This makes them a real challenge to land, since the hook will tear out quite easily.

When I was fishing Pine View for them, I used a canoe (which I don't have any longer) to get up into their spawning beds, but a float tube (which I do have) would be great fun too.

There are Crappie in Willard Bay, and from what I’ve heard, your best bet is in the north end marina bay; but I’ve never had much luck for them there.

If you hear of a place, let me know and maybe we can get together some time and go have a blast catching, frying, & eating.

chuckh@comcast.net[/size]
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[wiperhunter2]

Welcome to the site Chuckh, Icefishingod had a good post about catching crappie at pineview a week or two ago. Spring is always a good time to catch crappie at pineview and Willard. I've never caught any in East canyon but I have seen them several times. I'm sure there will be plenty of reports this spring when the crappie start their spawn, so keep watching for that report, although it will be a few months. Do you like to fish for any other panfish? WH2
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[kj]

I know crappie bite during the ice season. I've seen plenty of tv shows about catching them. I also know willard holds them. My brother used to catch them on the bear river over by tree town...errrr Tremonton. Guess I'll wait and see if any surface at willard this winter.
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[wiperhunter2]

I think your best bet for catching crappie through the ice would be Pineview. PM Icefishingod and maybe he will give you some info that will help, he said he knows a couple areas that holds crappie in the winter but Pineview has been slow this year so who knows. WH2
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[tubeN2]

Hey guys, I'm no stranger to UT waters. Back when I lived there, we use to get a good crappie bite at Willard and as was mentioned at the North Marina.

We always did good on a white or yellow featherd jig 1/16 - 1/32oz. I sure miss that hard water action. I might go back up there some day and refresh my memories.
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[gshadow]

I have caught crappie in willard at the north marina, we fished at night and was late spring.
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[Xman]

the crappie population at willard is not good. pineview has been terribly slow but they are in there and catchable. just have to find them. cutler could be another spot. newton had a major fish kill. we dont have a very good crappie fishery in the whole state. but we have some that do well during hot periods. crappie bite in the winter but that is on tv in states with very healthy crappie populations. i would be surprised if it was a crappie in the bear river. they do have sunfish in there though.
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[wiperhunter2]

Mantau is your best bet for some big bluegill but there are also some local ponds that have bluegill. WH2
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[chuckh]

WH2,

Thanks for the inisght on the Bluegills.

When I was taking my kids there, the lake plants were really thick, but there was a clear area along the shore that ran out about 12-15 ft., and the kids could case out just shy of the weeds and the gills would shoot out of the weeds and hit their worms, it was great action for a 4 and 6 year old.



Are there still a lot of plants in there?



I've never been out on the water there, only from the shore. Does it clear out once you get out into the center?



I herar there are some large mount in there too. Are they any good?



Thanks again,,,, chuckh
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[Xman]

i would say the predominant species is now largemouth in mantua. with plants of rainbows. they are using it as a brood stock for kamloops rainbows. the lake is a bit low and is very weedy on the shore almost 100 percent of the way. it clears out real nice in the middle and outside the grassline. there are alot of small bluegill with a occasion decent one. the lake has swimmers itch during the summer so dont wade or even touch the water really if you go. just ask petty4life about it. hehehe
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[wiperhunter2]

Chuck, if your asking if there is still weeds there now, with the ice on it, I would say, not as much as the summer but I bet they are on the bottom. The summer is just as bad as it has always been.
The center of the lake has a lot less weeds than the shore but that is only because the water is deeper. We were trolling for trout in the open water a few years ago, we thought there was no weeds but after letting our lines out 75ft or so we started getting caught in them.
Yes, there are largemouth in the lake but most are small, less than 12 inches. If you put in your time you can catch them up to 6lbs or so and maybe bigger, although I haven't heard of any bigger bass that were caught in the last year.
WH2
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