Page 4 - Crappie NOW - March 2019

by Ron Wong

n many parts of the south, we have incurred
quite a bit of rain over the winter months.
IThe rains have many of the lakes with higher
than normal lake levels. For example, the I-55
lakes (Arkabutla, Sardis, Enid and Grenada)
are still trying to get to winter pool levels and
most likely will not make it. However, this may
make it a good year for super shallow fishing
as the lakes will be rising with spring rain.
As the lakes rise, more flats and fields with
bushes, grass and other objects get covered in
water. With the onslaught of warmer weather
and water temperatures, the crappie will be
moving up with the water levels.
One of the best and most effective ways
to catch some big crappie during this time
of the year is to go wading for them. We
have a couple of excellent shallow water
fishermen that would like to share some of
their techniques and tips. John Harrison of
Calhoun, Mississippi and Matt Outlaw of St.
Matthews, South Carolina are well known
shallow crappie fishermen willing to help you
catch more fish while wading in flooded areas
of a lake.
John Harrison of JH Guide Service spends
a lot of time wading the backwaters of the big
four crappie lakes along I-55 in Mississippi.
Most of the time, he will be using a B’n’M 9-foot Clay Blair looks for big crappie when
Capps and Coleman all purpose rod with 8- or wading. His rod of choice is a BnM 10-foot
10-pound test Gamma line on his reel. “The Sam Heaton Super Sensitive.
shorter rod is easier to use when fishing thick
cover such as vines and bushes”. This rod 2-inch Bobby Garland Slab Slay’R or Minnow
also has the backbone to muscle out the fish Mind’R. If the fish are just moving the bait,
in the heavy cover. Best baits are the 1/16th then add a crappie nibble to enhance the bite.
ounce Pro Built Gamechanger jig rigged with a He likes to drop his jig into a likely area,
hold it still and let the fish come to the bait.

...Rising water is usually stained Soon after a cold front, just a minnow rigged
to muddy due to rain, so he on the jig head will work best. John’s tip for
carrying minnows when wading: punch some
recommends black/chartreuse holes in a one-liter plastic bottle, put a dozen
color. minnows in it and drag it around with a string
tied around the neck of the bottle. One of his

4 Crappie NOW March 2019