Page 7 - Crappie NOW - June 2018
P. 7
MID-DEPTH WOOD
of mathematics, giving better odds for more
bites. The obvious disadvantage is more A trip on the Alabama River
hang-ups and more work. with Dan Dannenmueller revealed
Double-hook rigs are not the same. a perfect example of wood cover in
Fishermen have different preferences. Also, mid-depth water. The photo of the
situations require a specific rig. A typical locator shows fish on cover in 10
set-up for fishing 12 feet of water would be
a 1/16-ounce jig tipped with a minnow on feet of water. “It doesn’t take much
bottom, a 1/2-ounce egg sinker 15 inches cover to hold crappie. Of course,
above the jig, and 15 inches above the sinker the bigger and taller the cover the
is a six-inch leader with a minnow hook. This more likely it will hold numbers of
rig provides enough weight for very slow fish. Baitfish, and the fact that there
trolling, offers a jig that is usually tipped with a is something for crappie to use as a
minnow and a straight Mother Nature offering home-base reference point, are both
of a minnow. Variations include moving baits important,” says Dannenmueller.
closer together or further apart, increasing or He says electronics is the key to
decreasing the egg sinker and changing the fishing submerged cover. Mapping,
type baits. side view, down imaging, sonar and
A normal situation would be to locate PanOptics are all very important
several spots with electronics, put baits down because they save time. You can
and slow troll up to the marked spots. Once look at a spot and know whether to
at the wood, the baits are stopped and held
in the strike zone. With waves and slight boat drop a bait to it or not.
movements, the baits are never really still “The fish here on the Alabama
but do remain in an active zone. Even weary River may be at 10 feet or 30 feet
fish can often be enticed to bite. Think about in the summer. Many factors are
desert after a big meal. You aren’t hungry but involved, but catching them from
place pie and ice cream in front of you and it’s 10 feet of water is easier than 30
usually more than you can turn down. It’s the feet.”
same with the crappie. Dan and Sue Dannenmueller
are fishing two national circuits this
Summer Depths year, Crappie Masters and American
Fishermen at Truman Lake say very Crappie Trail. The “Crappie Mates”
shallow water is good in the summer. Fishermen team can be followed on facebook.
at other lakes may say the deep 20 to 30 feet
water is best in the summer. However, there
are usually mid-depth crappie in most lakes all Cold Front: Summer conditions are
summer long. There are exceptions, but don’t better than spring because there are fewer
discount any depth until you’ve tried it. cold fronts. Fish will get into a pattern and stay
Factors there for a long period of time. Fishing can be
more consistent day to day.
Sunshine: Sunny days can be an Boat Pressure: Most lakes can be a
advantage because fish usually something to disaster during the summer. The key is to
protect them from light penetration from the get to the lake at daybreak and stay until late
sun. They’ll likely move up tight into the cover. morning when the skiers and jet skis come out
Clouds/Rain: Opposite of sunny, the in numbers.
dark days will likely scatter fish because they
don’t need the cover. Cover may be good or
mediocre. Look for fish to be over or around
the cover. - Tim Huffman
7 Crappie NOW June 2018
