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Hey yβall β got a star-studded lineup for today's TC with some pretty sweet summer π§!
I've finally been able to get out playing with some new baits and gear. Finally got my hands on a 7' Dobyn's E.C. Special, and that thing is sick.
It's real light, real sensitive, but the biggest thing I like about it is where the reel seat is β lower than most spinning rods. I have it paired with a 2500-size Kistler Feather Chromium Spin Reel. The size and weight of that bigger reel balances well on that top rod grip, which is where I hold spinning rods. Feels great in the hand!
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Also been using the Cuda Crappie Net. Don't know why I haven't been using a long crappie net like that yet, but it really does help with getting more fish in the boat. Check out a quick vid on that deal here.
Let's get into it!
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If your email program cuts off the bottom of the email click "View this email in your browser" up top to see the whole thing. Sorry about that β email programs keep changing stuff!
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Well, it's that magical (not! π€£) time of year when the whole country is just one big heat wave. The crappie bite can get weird and get real tough.
I've been trying to wrap my mind around how to get these lockjaw fish to bite...or find some that will bite, so I gave AL/MS guide Jamison Carr a call to see how he's pulling in limits like the one in the pic above and got some π§-y info.
Here are a few Q's with Jamison:
When it's blistering hot, what's one specific thing people can key on to catch a limit of crappie?
> "The biggest thing this time of year β finding a good thermocline. If you can find somewhere that's got a good, thick thermocline, that is the easiest way to find crappie this time of year."
What's a good way to find and gauge the thermocline on a lake?
> "Side imaging or down imaging, either one is productive. I'll side scan and run around checking different areas.
> "There will be parts of the lake where you'll find a thicker thermocline depending on the oxygen levels, and the fish in that part of the lake are going to be above that thermocline, right at the top of it."
Follow-up Q: Are you looking for brushpiles and structure at the thermocline or individual fish?
> "Both. In the lakes in MS [like Grenada] where the fish don't really hold structure, we're looking for single fish.
> "In lakes that have a lot of structure, if you can find structure that's above the thermocline, your fish are going to be suspended above that majority of the time.
> "If it's not a real thick thermocline and the oxygen levels haven't really killed it down there, you'll have fish go down into it and come back up. But when you get a real, real thick thermocline, those fish are going to be above it or within 1-2' of it."
What bait size are you going with in the heat?
> "I usually stick with a smaller bait this time of year, something I can present to them and get them to eat. Some fish are real active, some aren't in the heat. I stay with a happy medium and try some different baits.
> "I have found fish on the Tennessee River chain β sometimes they don't want a small bait. You can pitch a small bait to those crappie and they will not touch it. Then you pull out a 3-inch BoneHead Tackle Slim Stick or something like that, and they'll demolish it.
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> "Then you can turn right around and find a black crappie sitting out there that wants something completely different. I usually keep 2 or 3 poles rigged with small baits and large baits. If he's not going to react to one, I'll pick up another and present it to him."
If you had to pick one color, bait and presentation right now, what would you choose?
> "On black crappie, I tend to stay with 'chartreuse and black' or something a little darker.
> "You've got to present it to them very, very lightly, and that bite is so light this time of year.
> "You've got to downsize and really keep that bait in front of them. The longer you can keep it there, the better your chances are of getting a bite.
> "White crappie β probably the BoneHead 'slick' [a 'monkey milk' type color] would be my go-to. Something whiter, especially this time of year when the water cleans up.
> "If they're active, it's pretty hard to mess up. If you keep it rolling, they'll chase it. They're 2 completely different species of fish. Blacks and whites act completely different this time of year.
> "With white crappie this time of year on artificial baits, it seems like the longer you keep it there, the less likely they are to hit it. They want it running from them and they'll go get it. If you leave it there too long, you can only fool them for so long and then they'll leave it alone."
Are you throwing different baits or the same bait for black and white crappie?
> "I've really gotten to where I like that [BoneHead Tackle] Stump Bug β it's become one of my favorite baits.
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> "I like the Stump Bug simply because I can make different baits out of it.
> "I can take the center out and make a split-tail. I can take the 2 legs off the outside and make a small profile for a black crappie. I can basically make 3 different baits out of that one bait."
Are you still long-poling for white crappie right now or are you casting?
> "Casting. Casting for everything."
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"I've got 1 dock where there might be 1,000 or 2,000 fish underneath it."
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That's Lake of the Ozarks' (LOZ) π¨ Terry Blankenship β who's probably the best dock shooter in the country β talkin' some of the docks he's fishing in the heat of the summer.
I gave him a call to get the scoop on how to pile up on crappie-fishing docks right now, and a dock convo with Terry never disappoints!
Quick note: Terry talks about current a lot since LOZ tends to have a lot rolling through it in certain places. Similar deals can apply on TVA lakes and even lakes that have a lot of wind-current β especially now since there's been a prevailing south wind.
What kind of docks are you looking for right now?
> "Sometimes it's a combination of shade and current. The bigger platform docks tend to have the most fish because, in most cases, people can't reach those fish and they survive there more year-round.
> "You can drop your jig along that break wall and let the current pull it underneath. Sometimes you don't have to do anything but let it get down there and one will smack it."
What other dock setups are high percentage?
> "A dock near a break in a bluff wall can be really good. The current hits that bluff before it gets to the dock and kicks the main current away.
> "If there's a dock just inside that break, those fish will set up really well. It's all about food. They're sitting there letting the current bring food to them without having to battle the main current."
Do you change up baits and weights or can you stick with one deal?
> "I almost exclusively shoot a 1/16-oz jighead. My go-to bait for the last 2-3 years has mostly been the Bobby Garland Minnow Mind'R.
> "'Silverfish' (L) has probably been one of my main colors, and 'monkey milk' (R) is always a good one too.
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> "The body is a little rigid, and that helps. If I shoot something with a big-action tail, it slows the bait down a little bit and keeps me from getting quite as deep under the dock.
> "[Distance] is the key. The farther you can get back underneath a dock, the more you're getting to fish that most people aren't reaching."
How are you working the bait once it gets underneath there?
> "I try to shoot it as far as I possibly can. If I shoot one 30' underneath a dock and know I made a good shot, I hold that rod as solid and still as I can.
> "I'm watching for that line to slack up [and] I use high-vis line religiously. If that line jumps or slacks up, I set the hook. A lot of times you'll never feel the bite.
> "I use 6-lb Vicious high-vis mono religiously because I'm a line-watcher. A lot of people miss fish they had a bite on and never even know it because they don't see it or feel it.
> "I stay with 6-lb because changing line size changes how I shoot. A lot of times I'm trying to send that bait just underneath the foam and get it way back in there."
Terry dock shooting setup
> Bobby Garland Minnow Mind'R (silverfish) or Bobby Garland Slab Stalk'R (silverfish), 1/16-oz [Apex Tackle] Blankenship Jighead, 6-lb Vicious Panfish High-Vis Mono, Daiwa Fuego Spinning Reel (2500), 7' L FX Custom Rods Carbon Series Spinning Rod.
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Can hand-tied jigs outfish plastics?
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As promised after last week's TC, I did some digging to see why a lot of Crappie Masters tourneys are being won on hand-tied jigs.
I reached out to 2025 Crappie Masters nat'l champ Kayle Ward to get his 2c on the deal β are they just that better? Did it depend on the fishery? Here's Kayle:
> "Before LiveScope came out, it seemed like I was running a lot bigger baits and bigger jigheads.
> "When we first started running LiveScope, especially in the warmer months, we started learning to downsize. Those fish would nip at a bait, and those little hand-tied jigs just seemed like they would get bit better post-spawn into summer than some of the plastics we had at the time.
> "The other advantage was durability. You could tie one hand-tied jig on and catch 100 fish on it. As long as you didn't hang it up or break it off, you might fish 3 days without having to retie or put another piece of plastic on."
Do you still think a hand-tied jig will outfish a plastic?
> "Over the last 2-3 years, I've transitioned back toward plastics. I don't feel like a hand-tie will necessarily outfish a small plastic anymore.
> "Now we've got smaller profiles like the Bobby Garland Itty Bit series and Slab Stalk'R β plus smaller jigheads and hooks that actually match those little plastics.
> "The main advantage of a hand-tie over a small plastic, in my opinion, is you don't have to keep reaching in the box and putting another plastic on. I'm not going to say they catch more fish than a small plastic."
Are most guys downsizing more now than they used to?
> "Especially in warmer water, summertime, post-spawn or any kind of finicky bite, I do feel like over the last 6-7 years we've had to downsize a lot more to consistently get bites.
> "I can't tell you exactly why. In some lakes, the bite will be better or worse from year to year. There are a lot of variables β fishing pressure, bait in the lake, feeding time, water clarity.
> "But as a whole, I do feel like we're having to downsize more than we used to. There are also more people crappie fishing 12 months out of the year than there ever have been, so I'm sure that has something to do with it."
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A right way to rig a minnow?
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Kayle also talked minnow-rigging: He mentioned in crappie derbs everyone at some point fishes minnows. And on guide trips, lots of guys use minnows most of the time β especially now with these dang finicky fish! π
Anyways, I picked Kayle's brain on if there's a right way to rig a minnow for better hookup ratios/better presentation and got some straight π§! Here's how Kayle is rigging his:
> "If I'm tournament-fishing or it's earlier in the year and the bite is still pretty good, I prefer a 1/16-oz jighead with a #1 or #2 hook.
> "I open the minnow's mouth, put the hook point in its mouth and come out underneath the gill plate so I never actually poke a hole through it.
> "Then I push its mouth all the way up to the jighead, kink its back a little and hook it back through the top of the back. That minnow is threaded onto the hook just like a piece of plastic."
What do you change when the fish get finicky?
> "Later in the year on a more finicky bite, those fish will nose up to that bigger setup and not bite it.
> "Then I'll go to a 1/32- or sometimes a 1/64-oz jighead with a #6 hook. I'm always going to use the biggest jighead I can get away with.
> "I'll either lip-hook the minnow so it sits upright, or hook it through the top of the back. That little bit of weight helps keep the minnow down and makes it work a little harder to swim, and I feel like that can entice some bites."
Does where you hook the minnow make a big difference?
> "I've seen it make a tenfold difference in bites from day to day, whether you hook them through the lips or through the back.
> "I experiment with it all day. If we pull up to a brushpile and they've been biting a lip-hooked minnow, then the school starts slowing down and fish are just swimming up and looking at it, I'll hook the next one through the back.
> "With that #6 hook, I'll barely bend the hook open just a little bit. And don't jerk: pull-set. When you feel that bite, just pull into them and let that little hook go straight into their mouth.
> "If you start jerking on them, you can pull that little jighead and hook away from the fish."
If you want a good visual on that first minnow-rigging deal Kayle was talking about, check out this short YouTube vid (which I believe is also the most viewed YT crappie video ever) from 903 Fishing. He's got it on a plain hook but rigs it the same way.
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Fish more 'gumdrop' baits?
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In my opinion, this is one of the most slept-on colors in crappie fishing. Itβs a different take on the always-good 'black/chartreuse' β dark purple back, chartreuse belly β it just looks dang juicy.
Iβve done best with it in dirtier water, but black crappie will absolutely smoke it in clear water too, just like they will 'black/chartreuse'.
I honestly donβt know why I havenβt thrown it much lately, but a recent Brandon Lester YouTube video reminded me how much I like the color β and especially one of my favorite baits in it, the Bobby Garland Itty Bit Slab Hunt'R in 'gumdrop'.
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Here are a handful of baits that come in that color with some pretty cool variations depending on the brand and bait:
Berkley PowerBait Power Vibe 'knock out'
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This deal is a clear-water killer and is the exact bait Brandon Lester was using in that vid I was talking about. He thinks it imitates a little bluegill fry that crappie will eat.
BoneHead Tackle 'gumdrop'
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I'm digging the hot pink-esque top on this one!
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I've had these in my boat for a long time β for 10 bucks, they're super durable and they really do cut through braid well!ο»Ώ
ο»Ώο»Ώ
ο»ΏCatch 'em on Tackle Warehouse!
3. Wally "Mr. Crappie" Marshall's favorite rod length is...
...a 10-footer.
4. Top 5 lakes that grow the biggest crappie are...
Grenada Lake, MS, Enid Lake, MS, Reelfoot Lake, TN, Weiss Lake, AL, Santee Cooper, SC respectively.
5. AR: Crappie bite going down on...
> Lake Maumelle: Crappie are stacked at 8, 10 and 12' chasing shad. There are also reports of crappie stacked on brush in 17-20'. Jigs, swimbaits and minnows are all working.
> Bull Shoals Lake: Crappie have been pretty scattered, mainly in the creeks on brush, sometimes really deep in it. Fish have gotten really finicky at times, so moving is key. 1/8-oz jigs.
> Beaver Lake: Crappie are suspended and trolling is the game right now. Lucas Cranks have been doing well trolled at 2.2 mph with 60' of line out.
> Millwood Lake: Crappie improved drastically over the past week or so with the reduction in current in Little River and improving water clarity. Best action has been on minnows and jigs from 8-14' in brush, stake beds, planted bamboo limbs and cypress tops.
6. CA: Plenty of crappie to be caught in...
...Bass Lake. π€¨
7. IA: Best crappie bite on...
> Lake Anita: Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good this week. Troll the roadbeds or fish along deep tree piles to find black crappies. The early morning bite is best, and sorting is needed for larger fish.
> Big Hollow Lake: Crappies are holding in 6-8' along the edges of flooded timber. The thermocline bottoms out at 9', and fishing activity picked up this week with the cooler weather.
8. AL: Smith Mountain crappie on deep docks and laydowns
9. LA: 2 more lakes being drawn down for invasive veg removal
Henderson and Chicot Lakes.
10. CO is doing a "fish salvage" at Daigre Reservoir
βFish salvage" means take 'em out. Supposedly due to drought and drawdown.
11. Dragonfly Energy Acquires Dakota Lithium
Headlines of the Day
What is Garmin LiveScope?
I have no idea but it sure is popular! Wonder if it'll ever catch on in crappie fishing? π€£
Bass smashes topwater golf ball at golf tourney
Cut all the arms off an urchin and you're good to go!
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Swing your jig, don't drop it right now...
...even if you're long-poling. From a Dangle Nation YouTube video on fishing timber in the summer around spooky fish.
> "What I like to do when I'm fishing these piles of standing timber is cast out past it and swing [the jig] down into it.
> "Maybe you had some fish that were confused or skittish. Now it looks more natural because the bait's coming from a totally different direction [not on top of them].
> "I want to keep that jig over those fish's face and just let it naturally swing across their plane.
> "I don't want to hit them. If you hit them, they're going to be gone. You're trying to figure out if they're aggressive fish, lazy fish, if they're going to bite or if they're just going to sit there and watch it."
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