Page 5 - Crappie NOW - April 2018
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LIFE ON THE RIVER
River Tips from Dannenmueller
Some of the best fish are found
on intersections where crappie
follow a channel out to where it
intersects with another channel.
Finding a baitfish-channel
combination creates an extremely
high-potential spot for catching
crappie. A ledge with food is
ideal.
When current in a river is
minimal, expect crappie to be
suspended up over the cover.
When current is moderate, they’ll
get down behind it.
Electronics will reduce search
time. Spend as much time as
needed to find the right spots.
Remember fish don’t always
Dannenmueller with a good crappie taken bite. If you find a good spot with
from submerged brush. Mixing the right lots of fish but they don’t bite,
area + contour change + cover = crappie. return later and the fish may be
active. It’s possible to be catching
them two at a time using double-
component when the fish aren’t spawning,” hook rigs when they turn on.
says Dannenmueller. “Everything before
the spawn and after switches to finding Fish use ledges like highways
contours and cover. Every company has so don’t neglect fishing them.
good electronics today but I prefer Garmin. Whether river or lake fishing,
They have clear, accurate readings whether try using a new color jig. A new
it’s down, to the sides, or PanOptics.” color will often work just because
He seldom wastes time by fishing the fish haven’t seen it over and
before closely searching with electronics over.
believing time spent on the locator is more
important than having poles in the water. By
fishing high percentage spots less time will to a summer pattern where stumps in deep
be wasted in unproductive locations. water are important.
“So we are starting shallow during
Targeting & Catching the spawn, back out to mid-depths during
“Big cover right on a ledge can post-spawn and to deep water, maybe 25
be fantastic on a river system,” says feet deep, in the summer. Big brushpiles,
Dannenmueller. “Some of these fish really trees and stumps provide the food, cover,
don’t move too far. They live their whole everything they need. We target those fish
life in the creek or river. So following the in whatever depth of water they are holding.”
spawn, they will transition gradually back Normal conditions means getting
5 Crappie NOW April 2018
