Todd2

My PB came on a jig in deep water, but #2 came on a white spinnerbait right before I was getting ready to lift it up for the next cast. Saw the whole thing go down.

I might have to take a Crappie break and break out the Spinnerbaits this weekend.?

We usually go around the 3rd week and sometimes we are a little early it seems and sometimes late, depends on the weather between now and then of course. I've seen it lights out on south Barkley and buddies fishing up north end up moving down with us the next day. Sometimes it's just the opposite. From April 11th to 15th, I'd be thinking south Barkley secondary points on an average year I guess.

Wow, I might have to break them out a little sooner this Spring.

I was Crappie fishing with my son Sunday and we got into them pretty good late in the day. Water temp was 38-40, when I saw 3 dudes Bass fishing down the opposite bank. All 3 were chucking and winding big spinnerbaits. Seemed odd to me, we are having April type weather but right after a single digit spell. Didn't see them catching, but curious if anybody here has any luck when the water is that cold. I'm not talking slow rolling here, chuck and wind.

From a fellow C survivor, thanks for the reminder to have that stuff checked out. Good luck with everything, even with looking younger..?

I can't add much here, I think Sam and the others have nailed it. In John Hope's book, I remember a big fish that could only be approached without the trolling motor (wind) and without sonar turned on. Any other way would send it out of the tree it was in. So big fish get big by having that six sense or whatever you call it. His tracking also showed, if I remember right, that they don't go that deep when not feeding but do suspend out over deep water which effectively is the same I guess. In my experience, my bigger fish have come on windy days, maybe aiding the stealthiness.

My bigger ones come at night with the exception of my PB that came on a late November windy afternoon.

I think you can rig with just about any tube and tube jig. I bought a bulk of two toned laminate (green/white) tubes about 5 years ago and I'm still on that bag. I don't remember the name. About the Stupid rigging, get a bowl of water and dip the tube (helps sliding the jig head up to the top) , there are videos out there that show how but it's much easier to make them up the night before going out because you have to have it rigged before you tie on. I usually make up only a couple of backups, because when your done fishing, the salt rusts out the tube jig if left in the box. Yes, I have done that, lol. So remember to take them off unless you are fishing a lot (which is never a bad thing). Great thread, Tubes are underrated and definitely not just the Smallie weapon that some believe.

I stumbled across Stupid Tube rigging a couple of years ago and it's really the only way I fish them now, very weedless. I've had some pretty good success but like other great lures I use, it has slid back in the rotation. I had some good days back in the Fall with it, right before I started chasing papermouths over the winter.

I like Power Pro, has a little body (not too limp) to it which I prefer.

Except in price, knot strength, and handling. Yo-Zuri is better in these categories than any fluorocarbon I have tried.

Rarely get to call my shots so I go when I can. I pay no attention to the charts but have noticed better results on windy days. But if it's dead calm, I'm still fishing.

I go through spells where I forget about them, not sure why. They come through wood like a champ but one of my best days ever was a hot sunny Summer afternoon with pleasure boaters zipping by every few seconds and I was slow rolling it down a rocky point and was wearing them out. Some really good fish. So the text time your out there hopping a worm around and not getting bit try that spinnerbait out deep.

Yeah, that'll catch em... Unlike my Bass gear, I'm trying to keep my Crappie fishing simple. I like Charlie Brewer Crappie Sliders in a couple colors (Blue / Charteuse is my #1) and I have a few Arkie Hinee Shinee's. With a little Crappie nibble on, I don't notice much of a difference between them and live minnows, without the hassle. This is my first real season mainly Crappie fishing though so subject to change. I use two rods, both in the 9 foot range, one Crappie rod and one old Float N Fly rod I've had for years. Both work fine. Zebco 33 will be fine.

Wow, 125 is crazy. I've found some deep standing Timber that's hot right now but nothing like that. Go get em! On a side note, with Winter drawdown, I'm finding a lot of deep diving crankbaits on this Timber that is normally hidden. Also a new Summer Bass spot. ?

Other than Egg Nog and Cocoa, this is the only line in this thread that I understand and agree with. ?

If my Googling is correct, the Black Crappie state record in NJ is 4lbs 8oz....

Complain about the Winter here, will I not do anymore.

I'm in an all out war with the local Crappie at this point ...my weapon right now is the Shinee Hinee jig. I'm winning, lol. Caught a few of those lowly Bass on it too. ?

Big Game makes a Solar Collector color that's easy on the eyes when watching.

Not to the Dark Side??? Where is Yoda when you need him....lol

I change out my mono about two to three times a year depending on the rod, but it's cheap, so change as often as you like. The #1 reason for line failure in my opinion is the knot....retie often and then some.

Yeah, that was it.

I saw a study, and it's been talked about on here, about fluoro's inability to "snap back" after being streched so yes on cutting it back. I wouldn't worry about the mono. My 2 cents.