Page 4 - Crappie NOW | March2016

Shallow Wood & Brush

W surface was important to the spawning

ood and Brush. Spawning time, crappie. We dropped jigs down on about
and the catchin’ is easy. Or maybe not. But four inches of line and the crappie smoked
it’s a good bet that sometime when the water them. This is not uncommon when wade
warms and the crappie come in to spawn fishing.”
there are places where you can slip on the
waders and enjoy great crappie fishing.

Wood & Brush Combo A jig can be placed in spots a
Wood and brush in shallow water is to minnow rig can’t.
crappie what a meat-lovers pizza is to a fan
watching the Super Bowl on TV. They just
go together. For crappie, there is no better
time than when the waters warm and fish Eight times Classic Champ, Ronnie
move into the shallow water. Capps has waded for many years. He agrees
Cover can be anything. However, that it is seasonal and not a good tactic in
wood has a special attraction. Whether it’s many waters. But where it works, it’s great.
algae, shade, ambush spot, protection, heat He says the reason it works so well in the
absorption, or all of the above, it draws and Mississippi lakes where it’s so popular is
holds fish. water clarity. Visibility is often one to four

Wade Fishing inches in the water. The muddy stain mixed
with acres of shallow water with wood cover
Without a doubt, the biggest makes these lakes outstanding for wade
advantage to wading is a stealth approach. fishing in the spring.
A fisherman can sneak up on a fish without
the fish knowing he is there. It’s easy to Details
move quietly, something not possible in a Both pros agree that water
boat. There are no slapping sounds, lids temperatures are very important. During and
slapping in the boat, trolling motor noise or after the spawn are ideal times. Spawning
the pressure in the water from the boat. The starts around 60 degrees and continues
key is to move slowly, shuffling feet in small until spawning is complete and the males
steps while detecting bottom depth changes leave the beds. The prime wade period is
and underwater cover. likely to be two to three weeks most years
“The water is still cool so it’s no time but it’s possible it could last much longer.
to fall,” says wading expert, Kent Driscoll. One of the best tips is to look for the
“A firm bottom is best. Mud can bog you warmest water in the spring. It’s likely that
down making falls more likely. Plus, harder south coves will be colder than northern
bottoms are what crappie prefer.” coves. A couple degrees difference is all it
Driscoll says, “John Harrison and I takes to make one side of the lake better
found some old bream beds where crappie than the other. Southern winds and warmer
had moved into during high water. We waded sun on the northern sides causes them to
in and could feel the depressions. The hard warm first so that’s where you need to start.

4 Crappie NOW March 2016