Is it Just Luck?

[Bobberboy]

I fished all day this past Sat+Sun at a lake just north of Grand Rapids.
Sat. was freezing out but fishing was good caught a nice mess of 7-8 in gills but was after crappie there was two guys there pulling crappie out left and right so I asked how they were doing it, (very nice guys) they showed the bait and teardrops they were using and how they were jigging, I tried exactly what they were doing with NO luck and I mean ever thing even fished right next to them I mean like a couple feet away, just figured it was one of those days, tomorrows another day.
Sun. got there early with two guys there started fishing and few gills here and there an hour later same guys came down 15 mins later they started catch crappie right next us and the funny thing is, it was only him and his buddy catching crappie it got to the point where me and the other guys were just were laughing at each other, it wasn't just one here and there but at one point I counted 10 out of one hole.
Anyways is this luck or what, but I do thank them for giving out tips even though I didn't catch anything.

[dinoday]

My guess is they have a spot marked that they've used time and again that consistantly hold the crappies to it.
It have a couple spots like that I use myself and if I miss the spot by a few feet I won't get any.It can be so specific that you may catch fish,but your buddy in the same shanty is just off it and he won't catch any.
It's not luck...they know the spot:)

[patcheroo]

Do you have a Vex or some other type of fish-finder? It could be that you were fishing above or below the fish that they were catching..............Patch

[fishindude]

Try fishing that spot once if they aren't there. There is obviously something about that spot. Might be some type of submerged structure that is drawing baitfish which draws the crappie to this particular area. If you have one fish with a vexilar. Crappie will suspend making it near impossible or a long process of elimination, to fish for them blind.

[rivrat1959]

I've seen that happen before, they were just in the right spot,right on top of the fish, may have been some structure of some kind down there as the other guys stated.

[Bobberboy]

I was fishing the extact same spot they were fishing,exactly how they were fishing, starting from the bottom and jigging til I see my top teardrop in the hole and jig all the way down. the Vex was no good cus it was only in 4ft of water I wasn't marking fish but would catch them actually everyone had a Vex but no one was using theirs either. I talked to one guy that fishes with them alot and he said they do that all the time. and the guy that lives on the lake said it was just a big flat with no struture. I marked the spot and going back out tommorrow I'll let you know what happens

[JJ Mac]

That's what I like to call "putting on a clinic." It's not luck.

I'm going to disagree on the location variable in this case since you said you fished right next to them (like 2 ft. away) and still could not catch them. I'd guess it's one of the following or a combo of them:

A. Presentation factors: jig size, color, bait, line diameter, (flourocarbon?) lure depth (on bottom, just off, suspended, or downright high), what bait for heaven's sake, and how is it hooked?

B. Technique factors: jigging pattern and speed (or none), ability to feel even the lightest bite (and do the fish pull the bait down, or lift it when they hit ;) ) spring bobber or no?
Are these guys really steathy and quiet? Don't spook the hole in shallow water.

I'm not denying the fact that crappie aren't especially spot on the spot fish, that's a well known fact. However, I've personally experienced Crappie to be a little less structure spot oriented during hardwater than anytime of the year.

Next time you see them stop fishing for a minute and really focus on what they are doing. Ask them how they really do it. And be prepared with beer, pop, and beef jerky, as gifts. Anyone will share info for at least one of those while out on the ice. It's not magic. You'll figure it out. Then you can be on the move and find your own "magic" spots on several places on the lake.

Let us know when you get back out and start icing some slabbers. I'd like to hear how this one turns out.

[fishonbb]

I would definately ask how light of line they are using. I like to use the lightest i can get away with(2# or even 1#).

[MiketheElder]

Did you touch your bait or equipment with bare hands? Some of us (me especially) have proven than we have some kind of amino acid in our skin that repels some fish. I have gone so far as to fish with surgical gloves.

Some fish it doesn't seem to bother. Perch, sunnies, bass.

I know how you feel. I sat three feet away from Ed Stringer and watched him catch two dozen fish to my one. I've had other days trolling for walleye, wearing surgical gloves, when I had five in the boat and my son had one. On the same rigs.

That's fishing. Try some of that special soap that is supposed to wash off/mask your scent.

[huntelad]

ive had this happen several times just last week fishing with friends i got into a spool of bluegill catching one after the other and they drilled holes all around me asking what color teardrop? and so on. they caught a couple but remember when there hitting your bait like that its feeding frenzy down there.to me its like when your drop bait in your fish tank at home there not leaving tell all that bait floating in the water is gone. so once two or three start biting and spreading the food if theres more around here they come.

[Salami]

Listen to JJ mac Thats all good !

[Overdraw]

I feel your pain. Two weeks ago I was out in Oxford after crappie. There was two of us sitting right next to each other in a dog house blind and mother ------ my friend yanked out 10 crappie to my 0. Finally I'd had enough and we moved about 3 feet and both started catching them. Turns out we were fishing the edge of a sunken island and I was originally on the drop, he was in deeper water.

With all fishing, if doesn't work change it. --Overdraw

[jsmith2232]

The most common factor that can alter success with the same baits and presentation is line weight. Make sure you are using the lightest line possible. I generally use 1-2 lb test for panfish in the winter, sure you might break it off here and there but you will still end up with more meat in the pan than the guy next to you using 6 lb line.:lol:

[223369]

That has happen to us a time or two. It usually happens when we need to gas up before we leave. I try and gas up the night before but my brother in law does it on the way. When he does he doesn't catch as many as I do, so I try to make him drive everytime.:lol: Line weight is critical also. I would try and befriend those guys with a beer and find what they are doing good luck.

[scottyhoover]

Its never luck.

[Bobberboy]

I think I might have found the trick to catching crappie on this lake, I noticed that when I thread the bait and not exposing the hook on my teardrops, I was catching more crappie and bigger gills. using the same jigging tech. as these guys were using. Another thing I did tonight was I was fishing with a second pole using minnows about 1ft under the ice and was also catching some nice crappie all in all I ended up with 16 9-11in crappie and a few nice gills. plan on trying again this weekend hopefully it works agains. THANK-YOU ALL for the advise too.

P.S this was the tackle I was using

HI-tech rod with spring bobber
2lb test
orange/black teardrop on top
purple/silver glitter about 4inchs under the top one
tipped with spikes