Crappies

[fishon]

Went out last night to do some ice fishing and caught some of the biggest crappies I have ever seen. We couldn't keep two poles going it was that good. As soon as the minnow was in the water and before you could get a second line down it was time to bring in a fish. We caught some small ones but I would say the majority was 10-12" in length. i have one I'm thinking of getting mounted, just a hair over 14 inches. It sure was a good time and I'll be out again tomorrow night and again on the week-end.

Fish-On

[jnpcook]

Just out of curiousity, would you be willing to share where you caught them?

[msiebers]

I dont know what lake you were on but thats not important. If I were a bettin man, I'd say you stayed and fished after dark and you and your buddy were the only ones on the lake. Am I right?

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Mike

[fishon]

Sorry I didn't include the lake it was Orchard Lake and we were not the only people out thier, I'm not one to with hold information its a public lake. The only problem is the access to the spot we fished. Their is only one boat launch and the spot we fished was pretty far from that. I'll be out their again tonight, I hope.

[msiebers]

I have seen the same thing on minor lake near me. Although I can count on being the only one on the ice after dark. As soon as dark settles in, the big "specks" move up out of the deep areas towards the shallows after baitfish. If there is a channel close by leading to a bay or somthing, its even better. The action can be hot on minnows or wigglers for quite a while with some fish in the 12 inch range. Durring the day in the same area all you catch is stunted "gills" and sunfish.

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Mike

[fishon]

Went out again Friday night and scored some more huge crappies. This spot is in a bay on the edge of some deep waters. The crappies we have been catching have been averaging 10-11 inches in length, nailed 22 of them good sized keepers had to keep a couple of small ones due to to much bleeding. We will be out again this week, hopefully this will keep up.

Russ

[severus]

Originally posted by msiebers:
I have seen the same thing on minor lake near me. Although I can count on being the only one on the ice after dark. As soon as dark settles in, the big "specks" move up out of the deep areas towards the shallows after baitfish. If there is a channel close by leading to a bay or somthing, its even better. The action can be hot on minnows or wigglers for quite a while with some fish in the 12 inch range. Durring the day in the same area all you catch is stunted "gills" and sunfish.


Were you fishing near the boat ramp? Possibly in the area where the small bay widens into the larger part of Miner lake? That is a good lake for bluegills in the summer. Last summer, when it was really hot out, I caught several messes of gills on the south side of the lake, just before dusk. I haven't tried for specs this winter, yet. Hess and Brooks lakes have been dead, except for small perch.

[msiebers]

Straight accrosed from the ramp is a little channel leading to another bay. Fish in the shallows between the drop off and the channel. The fish are usually there after dark.
Its funny, the first time I discoverd this aproach, I was using a spring bobber on my ice rod since I was so used to how light the Bluegills bite durring the day. When one of those big Crappie hit theres no mistaking it... I almost lost a rod down the hole.

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Mike

[severus]

Originally posted by msiebers:
Straight accrosed from the ramp is a little channel leading to another bay. Fish in the shallows between the drop off and the channel. The fish are usually there after dark.
Its funny, the first time I discoverd this aproach, I was using a spring bobber on my ice rod since I was so used to how light the Bluegills bite durring the day. When one of those big Crappie hit theres no mistaking it... I almost lost a rod down the hole.


Thanks for the tip, Mike. Perhaps I'll see you there sometime.

Ken

[fishon]

I have been fishing on the other side of the lake. Like I said getting access to it sucks, I have been looking for another spot near the boat launch so parking won't be a problem. What I noticed is if you can find a spot near a drop off that has a sandy bottom near a weed bed is the best spot for the big specs. I did the same thing with one of my spring bobber poles almost lost it down the hole, got to be ready for the big ones. Last Friday night we were out their and they were hitting like the blue gills, you had to look for the slack in the line to get the fish or they were taking it on the way down.