The ice has actually left the lake. Birds get on their way back to their nesting grounds. It is time to dust the watercraft off as well as go trying to find some crappies. This is most likely my most anticipated time of fishing for me. It’s a wonderful self-confidence booster when you can discover these anxious crappies feeding, and also preparing yourself to spawn.
Allow’s come down to some fundamentals to assist you target these fish. I’m mosting likely to simplify into 3 essential aspects that need to assist you situate those crappies in their feeding frenzies. WATER TEMPS, LOCATIONS, and also PRESENTATIONS. When you can align these 3 aspects, you will have a hectic day of hook sets as well as fun.
Let’s talk WATER TEMPS for those shallow water crappies that we want. Currently, I will be the very first to admit, I couldn’t wait to get my watercraft out and also run the hot spots, to see if those crappies were opposing Mother Nature’s methods prematurely.
I have actually hit the water right at ice out seeking the shoreline crappies, when the water was hardly flirting with the 40º mark, obviously, they proved me wrong. What I did learn from this mistake was, how to seek staging crappies.
These are the crappies still hanging out in the nearby container closest to their spawning premises. Crappies in this hosting area are starving, as well as probably hostile. These aren’t the crappies I want, I will patiently await those generating crappies.
The wonderful water temps we are looking for are the mid 50’s. That 54-55º mark normally gets those crappies fired up and moving into their spawning locations. I can start the quest as soon as I locate these temperatures. This will certainly have to do with a 2-3 week duration when the water temps increase into the 60’s and tipping right into the 70’s, the spawn is about over with.
Among the inform tales for me is when I begin capturing those crappies that are all jumbled up from sitting on beds. They are a darker black shade, when I discover these fish, I recognize I am close to the motherload.
Now we need to talk place.
To discover my target water temps, I should remain in the ideal area, or browsing the ideal areas. Crappies will migrate right into locations to generate, as they are searching for superficial bays and also inlets. Also, coastlines, anchors, pencil reeds and cattail lined shorelines are likewise a favorite.
Among my favorite places to target beforehand is the timber pylon docks. These are those large sturdy docks that are long-term and also there are a couple reasons why I like these frameworks. They are permanent, and most of the dock proprietors have some kind of oygenation system running throughout the wintertime months to avoid the ice from harming the anchors, a natural attractant to fish. Those huge wood posts saturate up the sunshine as well as cozy the waters straight around them a lot quicker than the smaller sized docks would certainly.
Ok, so currently we have figured out when to go, as well as what to try to find when locating spring spawning crappies. Now we need to know exactly how to catch them and also what to use and I expect this due to the fact that I enjoy making use of light deal with as well as tailor.
I begin with a handful of 6 to 7-ft. ultralight rotating poles geared up with rotating reels with 4 pound mono. I utilize a range of poles that are all set up differently for various presentations. There are a number of methods to fish these crappies, I personally like every one of them, however I discover myself using a variant of these and afterwards homing in on schooling fish.
When I find a warmer shoreline, I such as to run a Northland Tackle Fire Fly Hair Jig and also I start with a 1/32 oz. jig preferably. I wish to see how aggressive the crappies are and also if they don’t work together, I downsize to a 1/64 oz. I normally tip these jigs with a Northland Impulse Mini Smelt as it looks like a minnow, and swims like one too.
I long line these out the rear of the watercraft and also cruise along the coastline at a fifty percent mile per hr as well as this is a quick means to make strides as well as locate fish. An additional trolling alternative I such as is running dimension 3 Salmo Hornets. Same concept of long lining them out the boat and also troll these up to a mile a hr. This method may not be as constant, yet you should find bigger a lot more hostile fish.
I such as to gear up the Northland Firefly Jig with a Rocket Bobber when I discover fish that are piled up in the shallows or near anchors. The neat aspect of the Rocket Bobbers is that they are meant to lay flat or straight on the water as well as the lightest of twitches or movement, will show a fish is on and time to establish the hook!
I see many people that will certainly utilize split shots or weights with these bobbers which is not necessary. They are heavy sufficient to cast a lengthy means with the lightest of jigs. Fan casting shorelines and also anchors is an excellent method to target the schooling fish, as well as extra notably, staying far enough away not to scare them.
I have actually learned a couple of techniques with time angling for these crappies and have actually come down with sometimes forgeting some essential information as I start my initial number of journeys in the boat due to the enjoyment. If you occur to hop on some fish and also you can cast, or bobber fish them, I would advise using an anchor instead of using your trolling electric motor.
Yes, your trolling electric motor is easier and that is why we all have them, nonetheless, in superficial waters the fish can feel that disturbance from the prop as well as push away from your targeted location. We had a Talon Anchor installed on our boat as well as it has actually been a complete game changer for shallow water fishing.
Make sure to note your GPS/graph so you can make a pattern when you are trolling for crappies and also end up capturing a few. Waypoints are excellent to have, yet look a little more than simply a waypoint. Examine the shapes on where you’re noting and catching the crappies and also try the same discussion in other locations on that lake and even other lakes, you will certainly find yourself catching even more crappies.
