Crappie, when and where?

[Majja]

Hey all I would like to go get a few Crappie and try them for table fare, as I hear they are real tasty. I my best recoletion I have never caught one. I know they are in Willard, Pineview and Quailcreek. Are there any other places that has them? When would be the best time to target them? I am assuming that they are best targeted using jigs should I be tipping with crawler or anything else?

Thanks
Majja
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Willard Bay and Pineview are the two best spots for either numbers or size. Mothers' Day weekend is typically a good time to target them coming inshore to spawn. In the cooler years they can be around for another month and then go deeper.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Fishing a tandem jig rig with small marabou or tube jigs is always a good bet for prospecting for them. Once you find them in an area, fish them with a single light jig under a tiny bobber. Some folks like to tip the jig with a bit of worm, fish flesh or meal worm/waxie. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]All the traditional spots at Willard are too shallow or dry right now. But, they are being taken from pockets near shore around the north marina. They should also be available in the channel both in the north and south marinas.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]At pineview, look for stickups and brush in shallow water near deeper water. Cast around the cover until you find some that is holding fish and then work it thoroughly. You can't catch 'em where they ain't, but once you catch one or two, there will be more in the area.[/#0000ff]
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[muskyhunter]

Benson Marina can produce some decent sized ones as well with the same type of jigs that TD is talking about.M.H.
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[bassrods]

Lake Powell has the biggest and most of all Utah....
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[Flycasting]

TD's advice is right on the money (as usual).

We'll need to get together and fish for them at Pineview this year. I have had 100+ crappie days there in the past, and I have a good idea where to get them. []
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[Majja]

Thanks for the info guys, Flycasting that sounds awsome. Maybe some day I can get down to Powell and try it. Let me know Weekends usually work best for me. But there is always the occasional day trip.
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[2fishon]

I agree with Bassrods about Powell. Utah lake also has many more crappie than it gets credit for. I've had the best success along the north end. Rig up like TD said, the smaller the bobber the better.
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[54fishin]

the fam is finally heading to pineview for the weekend. we've only been there 2 or 3 times and even though i came from a fishing background, i know way to little about doing it on my own. could you please explain the jig set up you were talking about for crappie? of course we would like to get a musky but at this point we would settle for anything. the kids have much more fun when they actually get to bring something in[crazy]. thanks
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]For casting two jigs at a time (tandem rig), I tie a blood knot and leave about 6"-8" tag on one side...with about 2 feet below that. I tie two different jigs on, to find what color(s) work best. Starting with a chartreuse for one jig and white for the other is not a bad way to start. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Use light heads (1/32- 1/16 oz.), depending on how far you have to cast, how deep the water is and how fast you will be retrieving. For shallow water and short casts, go as light as you can. And fish the jigs back in slow and steady. Crappies like a slow steady retrieve...not a jerky fast one. They will often just swim up behind the jig and close their mouth on it so all you will feel will be a slight pressure...no hard hit.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]To fish a bobber jig rig, just tie your jig on the end of your line and then clip a light bobber about three feet up. Cast out and let it sit without moving until the ripples have all gone away. Often your bobber will just twitch a little bit as a crappie moves in, slurps in the jig and spits it back out. If you do not set the hook quickly, you lose. Sometimes the bobber might move an inch to one side. Same thing. Pull to see if there is anything there. If the bobber goes under, set the hook. If it pulls across the top, only move it a few inches and let it sit again...watching for any movement.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Sometimes a slow steady retrieve of the bobber can be deadly. You might have to experiment with the depth of the jig, but cast the rig out, let it rest and then bring it slowly across the top of the water at "paint drying" speed. Again, watch for any change in the bobber...a stop, a twitch or a slight sinking. Set the hook. You will be amazed at how soft some fairly large crappie hit the jig. Then again, when they are really active, they will haul it down.[/#0000ff]
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[54fishin]

thanks a bunch.
hopefully ill have a GOOD report and pics to post on mon.
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