WESTERN KY (2/21/12) - Specs, Paper Mouths, Calico Bass, Whites, Blacks, Crappie, whatever you want to call them, with my country slang I call them Croppie!
 
Whatever you prefer to call them, we all know that they taste great as table-fare. For some anglers that love to fish for Crappie, it is tradition to start getting out there sometime in April or near time the Dogwood's start blooming. Some Old' Timers would say it's time to start fishing for the Crappie due to the water temperature being close to 63 degrees, which Crappie prefer to Spawn in. This is true in most cases.
 
There are a lot of hardcore fishermen, like myself, that are already going out on selective days and catching some fish! With the above average temperatures we have been experiencing this winter, the "bite" has been productive in many lakes in the region.
 
I have caught some very nice Crappies lately fishing structure and dock areas using 6-pound test line and a 1/16th ounce Lead-head jig fitted with a plastic skirt-tail jig body with colors consisting of chartreuse and red, pearl-white and silver glitter, chartreuse and black. All these colors have worked great for me, but take in consideration of water clarity and how deep that you may have to fish to catch Crappie.
 
I have found that during more clear water I have changed my tactics to bring on a bite. Such colors in clear water would be clear and silver, silver glitter and pearl, or try a more natural color as brown/black to represent a cricket or bug. Also, if you find the water to be more clear, don’t be afraid to use 4-pound test line, and if you have them, use a very long pole such as a 12 foot B&M Crappie pole.
 
In clear water crappie will be more apt to spook at the presents of the boat, and a reminder that Black Crappie will move into shallow water earlier than a White Crappie. Also, White Crappie tend to use dead wood structure more than Black Crappie, Blacks prefer to like rocky terrain or Riprap over wood structure. Either way, just venture out and move along easy. Present your method slow and easy as these fish are already in the spring mode now, I have caught some big Crappies already with a belly full of Eggs.
 
I prefer to match up my fishing pole gear to what I'm going to fish. If I know I'm going to fish out of a boat, I always take 4 different rigs with me. If I'm close to home, I take two long Crappie poles that are 12 foot for fishing structure or bank fishing. The long poles make it easier for me to pitch or drop my jig right into the spot I'm aiming for, which may be right in between a couple of tree limbs of brush. The long poles give me the advantage of control over how I place my bait right in the hot spot.
 
Also the two spinning rods I take are for casting over points, drop-offs, dock areas or open water. With a Spinning Rig, when I cast it out, I can cover a lot of water with just one cast. I've caught a cooler full of fish using a seven foot spinning rod equipped with 6 pound Stren line using a 1/16 oz. Jig or a 1/32 oz. for more shallow water.
 
If you're a local angler, a very good fishing Jig that I recommend is located at Uncle Lee's and also at several different bait shops near KY Lake and Lake Barkley is the Shelton's Jigs. Shelton's Jigs are very versatile in size and color. If you're near other Retail Stores that don't stock these, I would recommend using Blakemore Lures or any type of lead-head Jig. There are several different companies that produce these "Hot-baits."
 
In open water, on drop-offs, I have casted a Minnow type plug bait, such as a Rebel plug or a Slip Bobber Rig, using shiner minnows on a #2 Eagle Claw hook in deeper water. When the water warms up on into the spring, the long Crappie poles are excellent rigged up with a bobber and a minnow on a hook set for fishing bank structure or around Beaver Lodges. The set depth of a bobber will, a lot of times, prevent hang-ups when fishing near brush.
 
All in all, if you do take advantage of one of these warmer days, as coming up this weeks’ forecast, I want to wish you the best of luck, and remember to use your PFD's while on the water if you're out in a boat! Also let’s not forget that it's that time of year again to purchase new license for this calendar year! They expire on February 29th!
 
If you're a fisherman and hunter as well, I recommend that you purchase the Sportsman's Tag package. This covers your fishing and hunting license, waterfowl stamp, turkey tags, deer tags and a trout stamp.
 
Also, the new fishing 2012 Kentucky Regulations booklet is out and I always look and read this to keep up with any changes that the Fish and Wildlife Dept. may have posted.
 
For the spring anglers out there, I wish you the best of luck, and please remember to leave it better than you found it. I have taken in a small trash bag with me when I launch my boat and take 10 minutes and pick up trash around the boat launch area. There's always trash laying around these areas for some reason. Until next time, fish hard, fish a lot, fish often! Catch ya’ on the water or in the woods my friends!
 
Randy Adams
Outdoors with Big Country!!!!!

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