01-11-2006, 01:19 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Between my past records, and my "reckymembry", May is usually the magic month for easy crappies in Willard. Of course, it always depends on the weather patterns for the year and what the water temps are. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have pictures from the past of large strings of crappies taken along the rocks on Mothers Day (mid May), when we took our kids in a boat and fished minijigs under bobbers in about four or five feet of water. Everybody was catching fish as fast as they could cast out and wait for the jig to settle under the bobber.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That was during the actual spawning period, but you can start catching crappies almost anytime the water warms above about 40 degrees. That is also when the walleyes get frisky. Mid March has usually been a good time to count on that. I have taken quite a few crappies all around the lake while casting white or chartreuse twisters from the rocks for walleyes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]April is usually a pretty good month to fish the shoreline inside the North Marina too. There are several areas the fish seem to congregate each year, and you will find "the regulars" out there almost every day, casting their jig and bobber rigs. Some days are better than others. Some guys catch more than everybody else.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The key is to change up the jigs...size, color, depth below the bobber, etc. Also, keep moving around the shoreline until you find fish. Once you find a couple, you can usually bet there are more. They do school at this time of year.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Most guys fish about three feet under the bobber. That's a good place to start. Use light stuff...1/16 or 1/32 oz. White or chartreuse is always good. I used to do well with two tone minijigs...yellow and white, red and white, blue and white, etc.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The basic technique is to cast not too far out and let the ripples settle down from the cast. If the bobber does not twitch within a few seconds, give the reel handle a turn and let it sit again. Keep bringing it in, a few inches at a time, resting between pulls. Once you find the zone, make each cast just beyond it and work the jig back through it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When the fish are active, they will pull the bobber under. When they are slow, they may just make the bobber wiggle a little, or even just move sideways slightly. Bobber fishing is an art and you need to be attentive when fishing for crappies.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When the crappies are in full spawn, they congregate in places around the rocks, almost anywhere on the lake. Slow trolling small jigs, or even flies on a sink tip line, will help you locate them. Then you can anchor up and harvest.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I'll likely hit that pond a few times my own self in the coming months. With the higher water here again, the crappies should do well in the future.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have pictures from the past of large strings of crappies taken along the rocks on Mothers Day (mid May), when we took our kids in a boat and fished minijigs under bobbers in about four or five feet of water. Everybody was catching fish as fast as they could cast out and wait for the jig to settle under the bobber.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That was during the actual spawning period, but you can start catching crappies almost anytime the water warms above about 40 degrees. That is also when the walleyes get frisky. Mid March has usually been a good time to count on that. I have taken quite a few crappies all around the lake while casting white or chartreuse twisters from the rocks for walleyes.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]April is usually a pretty good month to fish the shoreline inside the North Marina too. There are several areas the fish seem to congregate each year, and you will find "the regulars" out there almost every day, casting their jig and bobber rigs. Some days are better than others. Some guys catch more than everybody else.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The key is to change up the jigs...size, color, depth below the bobber, etc. Also, keep moving around the shoreline until you find fish. Once you find a couple, you can usually bet there are more. They do school at this time of year.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Most guys fish about three feet under the bobber. That's a good place to start. Use light stuff...1/16 or 1/32 oz. White or chartreuse is always good. I used to do well with two tone minijigs...yellow and white, red and white, blue and white, etc.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The basic technique is to cast not too far out and let the ripples settle down from the cast. If the bobber does not twitch within a few seconds, give the reel handle a turn and let it sit again. Keep bringing it in, a few inches at a time, resting between pulls. Once you find the zone, make each cast just beyond it and work the jig back through it.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When the fish are active, they will pull the bobber under. When they are slow, they may just make the bobber wiggle a little, or even just move sideways slightly. Bobber fishing is an art and you need to be attentive when fishing for crappies.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When the crappies are in full spawn, they congregate in places around the rocks, almost anywhere on the lake. Slow trolling small jigs, or even flies on a sink tip line, will help you locate them. Then you can anchor up and harvest.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I'll likely hit that pond a few times my own self in the coming months. With the higher water here again, the crappies should do well in the future.[/#0000ff]
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