Slabalicious!!!

[Bonefreak]

Dogwoods are in bloom....

Crappies are in the shallows!!!

[Rusty]

Nice!  

[JHbowhunter]

hard to say if Crappie or Walleye is the best eating freshwater fish... Always fun to try and figure that out through!!   I bet it was good. 

[Kype]

outstanding fish to eat and good fun on ultra light tackle. nice ones

[fdsmiles]

mmmmmm crappie!!!!been a real good spring for crappie.the walleyes are starting to pick up too.

[SPEARFISH]

Looks good.  Nice slabs

[stratocaster]

Very nice little boy you have BF.   Starting him off the right way.  

[Bonefreak]

16 minutes ago, stratocaster said:

Very nice little boy you have BF.   Starting him off the right way.  

Thanks Strat!!

Good kid!!

He watched me filet em up n didnt get grossed out, asked some good science based questions bout why fish was still moving from its nerves, n held open the zip lock bag while saying "thats some good meat!"

His lil pals down the street prolly wud have yacked n ran home n told their parents im a fish murderer!  Lol

[Lphunsjr]

Nice,,,,and yummo

[madeinuk]

I have heard that crappie do not live up to their name.  I live so close to Spruce Run but I have yet to get a canoe or kayak wet there to fish.  Hmmm...
 

Questions to guys who regularly find success catching g crappie:

What rig would you recommend for Crappie - will regular trout/spinners work or is there another kind of lure that is better for these?  Would a jig like a trout magnet work or again would I need to get a different kind?  What baits are effective?  What times have worked best for you - morning, midday,evening,night,anytime?

[Bonefreak]

33 minutes ago, madeinuk said:

I have heard that crappie do not live up to their name.  I live so close to Spruce Run but I have yet to get a canoe or kayak wet there to fish.  Hmmm...
 

Questions to guys who regularly find success catching g crappie:

What rig would you recommend for Crappie - will regular trout/spinners work or is there another kind of lure that is better for these?  Would a jig like a trout magnet work or again would I need to get a different kind?  What baits are effective?  What times have worked best for you - morning, midday,evening,night,anytime?

Now is the time....dogwoods are in bloom....they are coming into the shallows to spawn....usually near some shallow cover like weeds, stumps, brush piles, etc.

Can't beat small minnows under a bobber with between 3-4 ft of line between minnow n bobber...small split shot near minnow so he doesn't swim to surface. 

If no minnows available....small jigs like trout magnets n such under a bobber are good too!  I tip jig w a minnow if I got em as well!

They could be deeper than what u can effectively fish w a bobber.....so i will also throw a small jig or mini swim bait n let it sink deeper till I find em. 

If they are biting....any time of day seems good. 

Not sure what they are eating....but the necropsy from the other day only showed a green pumpkin colored mushy substance in their stomaches....likely some micro aquatic zoo plankton stuff.....but makes sense why i got a few on a green pumpkin colored mini swim bait!

Water temp was 57 degrees....so they shud be in shallow for the next few wks.....for spawn before retreating to their deeper, off shore haunts!

In-Fishermen fellas usually have a nice scientific approach to angling and heres an article they put together on crappie spawn....

Good luck!!

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/crappie-spawn-slabs/155604

 

 

[madeinuk]

23 minutes ago, Bonefreak said:

Now is the time....dogwoods are in bloom....they are coming into the shallows to spawn....usually near some shallow cover like weeds, stumps, brush piles, etc.

Can't beat small minnows under a bobber with between 3-4 ft of line between minnow n bobber...small split shot near minnow so he doesn't swim to surface. 

If no minnows available....small jigs like trout magnets n such under a bobber are good too!  I tip jig w a minnow if I got em as well!

They could be deeper than what u can effectively fish w a bobber.....so i will also throw a small jig or mini swim bait n let it sink deeper till I find em. 

If they are biting....any time of day seems good. 

Not sure what they are eating....but the necropsy from the other day only showed a green pumpkin colored mushy substance in their stomaches....likely some micro aquatic zoo plankton stuff.....but makes sense why i got a few on a green pumpkin colored mini swim bait!

Water temp was 57 degrees....so they shud be in shallow for the next few wks.....for spawn before retreating to their deeper, off shore haunts!

In-Fishermen fellas usually have a nice scientific approach to angling and heres an article they put together on crappie spawn....

Good luck!!

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/crappie-spawn-slabs/155604

 

 

Thank you sir!

[trapperjake]

Thanks for sharing all the info and pictures. Might actually get out and try for them.

[stratocaster]

8 hours ago, Bonefreak said:

Thanks Strat!!

Good kid!!

He watched me filet em up n didnt get grossed out, asked some good science based questions bout why fish was still moving from its nerves, n held open the zip lock bag while saying "thats some good meat!"

His lil pals down the street prolly wud have yacked n ran home n told their parents im a fish murderer!  Lol

Ah yes.  Totally understand the not "grossed out" part. 

 I remember as a lad field dressing a deer with my dad the 1st time and aside from the smell I thought it was quite interesting, especially after he explained why it needed to be done immediately to avoid spoiling the meat by cooling it quickly.   I learned to have a lot of respect for the fish and animals I harvested after that. 

 My non-hunting friends came over didn't understand why a deer was hanging in our garage.  I thought, "What are you talking about, don't you hunt with your dad?  Seemed so normal to me lol.

[Buck154]

Nice slabs. Fun to catch and better to release to be caught another day. Rather eat fluke or seabass