Pineview crappie

[perchpile2]

I left Wyoming at around 3:30 am. and headed to Pineview for some crappie. Started fishing around 4:45 am. Crappie were fogging the bottom 1/3 most of the time, until it started getting light. They were fairly active. I saved some perch parts, from the last trip, so had some starter bait. It's a good thing too, because I didn't catch one perch this trip. Even after daylight, those I thought were perch on the very bottom, turned out to be crappie. I had a couple of schools come through shortly after daylight, but after that...dead, dead, dead. I did meet a new friend. Thank you Levi, for a pleasant visit, and the company. I hope the ice will last long enough to do the night fishing. I ended up with 35, big enough to turn into fillets. If you don't get up early, you might as well stay home.
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[BRL1]

Good job.

How was the ice?
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[perchpile2]

Sorry, I forgot to talk about ice conditions at Pineview. The ice was good, at least 6 inches. It had buckled along the shore line, but was solid to walk across even at 10 am. That was on the north side of Cemetery. Nobody even tried to go on the south side, so I suspect the shore line on that side is mushy. With 50 + degree temps predicted this coming week, I'm afraid our season is going to be a short one. There ended up being quite a few people off the north side, and a few by the boat ramp. If you want to catch fish, you are going to have to lose some sleep. At least that is what it appeared when I gave it up at 10am.
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[Springbuck]

We stayed the night over Tues to wed, and it looks like we left right when the good stuff started!

We gave up about 3 am after fishing almost 8 hours for a dozen potato chip - sized crappies. We went out to the tip of Cemetery and did pretty poorly, despite drilling 20 holes. Even way out in 60' of water, we never saw the crappie clouds.

I am used to missing sleep. I stay up all night a couple times a week, most weeks, so I'll get there again. Sounds like rock hopping it down to the North side is worth it. The South side was plenty thick ice, just slick on top from the sun during the day. I'd be more inclined to believe nobody was there because it has a wide, sandy, and fairly shallow profile.

What was your best jig this trip?
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[perchpile2]

I am a long way away from knowing anything about crappie habits, but I would bet crappie head to the shallower waters, during the night, to feed or do whatever it is they do. I figured they must head for deeper water when it gets light, because they very consistently disappear when the sun comes up. I was using a very small tear drop shaped glow jig. I pre-rig with a 6 to 8 inch leader of light weight spider wire. I put a loop on the top end, so I can quick change to other jigs. Just unsnap the swivel and done. I also have put a small bb shot between the loop and the jig, to help it sink faster. The jig I used looks white, but, if I remember correctly, the wrapper said it glows green. I started with a little sliver of perch skin and whatever meat would stay sticking to the skin. Once in a while I would tip that with a wax worm. They seemed to like that. They liked a very small presentation. When I went bigger, things shut down. I wish I would have been able to go this morning, because between the weather, and my schedule, another near future trip, is not looking good.
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[Liprippin]

[quote perchpile2]I left Wyoming at around 3:30 am. and headed to Pineview for some crappie. Started fishing around 4:45 am. Crappie were fogging the bottom 1/3 most of the time, until it started getting light. They were fairly active. I saved some perch parts, from the last trip, so had some starter bait. It's a good thing too, because I didn't catch one perch this trip. Even after daylight, those I thought were perch on the very bottom, turned out to be crappie. I had a couple of schools come through shortly after daylight, but after that...dead, dead, dead. I did meet a new friend. Thank you Levi, for a pleasant visit, and the company. I hope the ice will last long enough to do the night fishing. I ended up with 35, big enough to turn into fillets. If you don't get up early, you might as well stay home.[/quote]

Isn't the limit on Pineview 20?
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[wiperhunter2]

I'm not speaking for him but it is possible he had someone with him.
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[perchpile2]

Please note: I said I caught 35 crappie big enough to turn into fillets. I did throw fish back. I just stating that they were decent sized crappie. Sorry for the confusion. I kept trying to target perch, but they were not cooperating.
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[wyoguy]

We non-residents pay more for our licenses so we are entitled to keep more fish!
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[RILEYFISH]

Lol, I loved your answer, let's get the great state of Wyoming and convince utah to let us keep a few extra kokes.
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[Liprippin]

[quote perchpile2]Please note: I said I caught 35 crappie big enough to turn into fillets. I did throw fish back. I just stating that they were decent sized crappie. Sorry for the confusion. I kept trying to target perch, but they were not cooperating.[/quote]

I did not mean to accuse, was just looking for some clarification. I apologize if it sounded like an accusation!

Guess I could post a report from this morning too. Got on the lake at 0515 and was back in the truck with a limit by 0730. Found some good ones. A few pushing the 10-11" mark. Like you say though, go early and stay late. The bite shuts off as soon as the sun comes up.
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[Springbuck]

The ice won't last too long, so I need to head up soon and learn how this is done. Give me a hint: we caught the fish we did at 33 feet, on the bottom, but it was darn slow, as I said. Am I in the neighborhood? PM if you like.

With the perch crashed, the Tmuskie population aging without replacements, and so many small crappie coming up in past years when I targeted perch, I wonder if they will raise the limit. The full limit of 50 never seemed to hurt the perch. The crappies seem as small and numerous as they were before they put the muskies in 20 years ago.

Maybe I'll go after midnight tonight. Anybody coming?
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[ddmoogs]

11 inches is good! Was the ice still pretty stable? I'm heading out there tonight.
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[Springbuck]

On Tuesday night over to Wednesday, we kept thinking it was sketchy - looking and all that, because it was already dark when we got there. It got down to the teens that night. Anyway, everywhere we started to feel nervous, we'd drill a hole. We never found any ice thinner than 8 inches.

DDmoogs, when ya going, where, and do you want company? I'm pretty serious about heading out, maybe getting there by 3:30, intending on Cemetery, but I can adjust.
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[Liprippin]

[quote ddmoogs]11 inches is good! Was the ice still pretty stable? I'm heading out there tonight.[/quote]

Ice was a solid 8 inches. I was the first one on the lake and it was really spooky walking out there in the dark, but I'm glad I brought the power auger. Edges looked like they had gotten a little messy but were frozen back up. This week is gonna be bad for the ice.
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[Springbuck]

We're you at Cemetery?
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[ddmoogs]

I fished from about 7:30-10 north of cemetery. The ice was extremely slippery, but stable. The edges are pretty rough so you need to be careful getting on and off. Fishing was pretty good about 10ish feet off the bottom and pieces of nightcrawler did better than waxies.
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