Page 3 - Crappie NOW - October 2017

Opening Cast

Another summer has
passed and fall is upon us. The
October 2017 EDITOR/ SR. WRITER tree colors are changing and
so are the temperatures. These
changes cause the crappie’s
IN MEMORIAM appetites to spike. Food is on
their minds to prepare for the
coming winter temperatures.
WRITERS This is an exciting time of the
Darl Black year to fish for crappie.
Vic Attardo This year there has been
Ron Presley more food for the fish than past years. Various sizes of
Vernon Summerlin shad and minnows abound. I am seeing thicker crappie
John Phillips with lots of stored up fat all over the country. But, that
Josh Gowan will not stop the crappie from performing their normal
Greg McCain fall feed and hence growing even more in weight and
John Felsher length.

Cooler water temperatures mean the fish can
freely roam their body of water without fearing a lack of
food or oxygen. You can bet they will be near some kind
of structure, especially brush piles in slightly deeper
water or ledges where schools of food abound.
This is where electronics play a part. No matter the
brand, use side and down views to see the depth and
locations where food and schools of crappie coexist.
I like to use my Garmin electronics in clear view and
down vu. The new Panoptix is second to none for
locating and seeing fish swim live in the water column.
Use a Color C-Lector to determine the color best
match to water clarity and to the depth the fish are
relating to. It works.

© Copyright 2017 If you live in the North, the end of October is a
good time to be thinking about servicing your outboard.
I have just gotten my Yamaha Sho serviced and
inspected to ensure everything is lubricated, water
pump is functioning correctly and if stored have the
cylinders fogged and the gas treated. Check fuel filters
to ensure they are clean and replace lower unit lube to
keep all gears immersed.
Be sure to check out our how-to articles and
Cover Photo: videos in this fall edition to help you locate and catch
Phillip Haynes and Paul Alpers those big slab crappie.
take Crappie Masters Classic.
photo by Tim Huffman Dan Dannenmueller, Publisher
Crappie Clubs....38

3 Crappie NOW October 2017