The crappie a few years ago was a relatively unknown fish. In this article I hope to make it a little clearer on what a crappie is and why its popularity has gotten so big in the last few years.
In the last few years the sport of crappie fishing has taken off beyond most anglers beliefs. You see crappies on the front of fishing and outdoor magazines. And in the last few years the crappie tournaments have popped up all over the place with huge prize amounts.
Most anglers tend to focus on spawning time when it comes to crappies. The reason for this is because the fish are so hard to find any other time of the year. They rarely stay in one place at a time for more than a day or so. However when you do find them they tend to be a very easy fish to catch
Right after ice out the crappies start to move into the shallow bays. Most guys think this is for spawning but actually they are moving in to feed on bait fish. The bait fish are brought there by the warming waters. The spawning doesn’t actually start until the water reaches about 65 degrees.
The male makes a nest by cleaning off the bottom on sand or gravel bottom. This is also quite often done near vegetation such as bull rushes. The females will then lay their eggs and then disappear. The males always stick around to guard the nest and the young until they are big enough to go on their own.
Crappies tend to feed on plankton suspended in open water. They also eat small fish and a variety of different insects. This would be a reason they are always on the move.
The crappie population tends to go in certain cycles. The fish will be very abundant for years and then all of a sudden it will seem like the fish have totally disappeared. Nobody really knows why this happens but they do know that when the fishing gets tough its time to stop fishing crappie for that season.
In the north black crappies are more abundant and in the south it’s the white crappies. They will overlap in different areas. The crappie is also one of the prettiest fresh water fish in our lakes.
In articles to come I will attempt to help you get to know the crappie better by giving you tips on where to find them and how to easier catch them.
Dale Mazurek
Dale has been an expert fisherman for the last 35 years. He has one several junior tournaments. You can check out some of his very popular blogs at http://fishingtutor.blogspot.com/ or http://funtidbits.blogspot.com/ and http://relationshiptidbits.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label crappies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crappies. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Fishing Tid Bits How To Fish Part 4
Well I am back with my fourth article and it is exciting to see how many people are interested in the fun of fishing. These articles are meant for everyone. Some of the more experienced anglers probably know a lot about what I am talking about already but I think back to when I knew nothing about fishing. I wish there would have been something like that. Eventually this will be an eBook so take advantage of it while you can. I have decided to change it up a bit and submit random tips. I hope you enjoy
1. A Sure Fire Way To Find Fish
Birds are a great way to find the good fishing spots. In the winter time on the ice you will find the sea gulls and crows gathering at spots where other fishermen have left bait or some of the small fish they caught. During the summer on open water you’re going to want to watch for loons and other fish eating ducks. They are most likely diving for minnows but find the minnows and eventually the bigger fish will be there to feed.
2. Yes Fussy Crappies Can Be Caught
In the spring time you can usually find the crappies in shallow water under bushes or protected by bank cover. At this point they are preparing to spawn. At this time of the year there not too interested in feeding and especially do shy away from baits and lures. You can however coax in some of the bigger ones by presenting them bait that is as natural as possible. Cast a small minnow with no sinker. By doing this the actions of the minnow will be just natural enough to get those off season crappies biting.
3. A Worm And Bobber
When you’re using a worm below your bobber you don’t want to hook it in the head because you are going to miss your strikes. And the worst thing is those darn fish will steal your bait. You want to hook the worm twice in the middle of the body. This way the bait looks more natural and when a fish bites it is more likely to suck in the worm.
4. Walleye And Busy Lakes
So many of our lakes have become so commercialized with weekend warriors. They are populated with jet boats, jet skis, and all sorts of commotion but don’t worry the big walleye can still be caught. I would suggest getting to the lake when it’s still dark. The walleye will be hungry. You’re only going to get a few hours of frenzied fishing but it will be worth it because once the boaters get out there the walleye will make a quick dash to deeper water and their feeding will be done for the day.
5. Careful When You Are Tube Fishing
You have to always be aware of your surroundings when you fishing in a float tube. The wind can make things miserable for you. Obviously you are using your hands for fishing so your feet are going to have to do the work. I would suggest tube fishing on smaller dug outs and ponds. If it gets too windy get out because once it takes over it could be a long tiring way back for you.
This will be the end of my fourth edition of my series on fishing. Keep reading my articles as they will get more informative and detailed as time goes on.
Dale Mazurek
Dale is an expert self taught fisherman of more than 35 years. He would like to share his expertise and stories with the world. You can check out his fishing blog at http://fishingtutor.blogspot.com. Dale is also a self taught author who is currently in the process of getting his first novel published. You can check his writings and lessons at http://stcajo-readshortstories.blogspot.com/
I am writing this for everyone young, old, big or small. The teachings in this series will range from novice to advanced. But I would just like everyone to remember that a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work
1. A Sure Fire Way To Find Fish
Birds are a great way to find the good fishing spots. In the winter time on the ice you will find the sea gulls and crows gathering at spots where other fishermen have left bait or some of the small fish they caught. During the summer on open water you’re going to want to watch for loons and other fish eating ducks. They are most likely diving for minnows but find the minnows and eventually the bigger fish will be there to feed.
2. Yes Fussy Crappies Can Be Caught
In the spring time you can usually find the crappies in shallow water under bushes or protected by bank cover. At this point they are preparing to spawn. At this time of the year there not too interested in feeding and especially do shy away from baits and lures. You can however coax in some of the bigger ones by presenting them bait that is as natural as possible. Cast a small minnow with no sinker. By doing this the actions of the minnow will be just natural enough to get those off season crappies biting.
3. A Worm And Bobber
When you’re using a worm below your bobber you don’t want to hook it in the head because you are going to miss your strikes. And the worst thing is those darn fish will steal your bait. You want to hook the worm twice in the middle of the body. This way the bait looks more natural and when a fish bites it is more likely to suck in the worm.
4. Walleye And Busy Lakes
So many of our lakes have become so commercialized with weekend warriors. They are populated with jet boats, jet skis, and all sorts of commotion but don’t worry the big walleye can still be caught. I would suggest getting to the lake when it’s still dark. The walleye will be hungry. You’re only going to get a few hours of frenzied fishing but it will be worth it because once the boaters get out there the walleye will make a quick dash to deeper water and their feeding will be done for the day.
5. Careful When You Are Tube Fishing
You have to always be aware of your surroundings when you fishing in a float tube. The wind can make things miserable for you. Obviously you are using your hands for fishing so your feet are going to have to do the work. I would suggest tube fishing on smaller dug outs and ponds. If it gets too windy get out because once it takes over it could be a long tiring way back for you.
This will be the end of my fourth edition of my series on fishing. Keep reading my articles as they will get more informative and detailed as time goes on.
Dale Mazurek
Dale is an expert self taught fisherman of more than 35 years. He would like to share his expertise and stories with the world. You can check out his fishing blog at http://fishingtutor.blogspot.com. Dale is also a self taught author who is currently in the process of getting his first novel published. You can check his writings and lessons at http://stcajo-readshortstories.blogspot.com/
I am writing this for everyone young, old, big or small. The teachings in this series will range from novice to advanced. But I would just like everyone to remember that a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work
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