Jay K
1/17/2011 9:34:00 AMWish I'd gotten out Sunday. Nice work on those perch; They look nice and fat. If you hooked a couple crappie, take your time reeling 'em in (loosen that drag). They've got delicate mouths and hooks sometimes tear out easy if you're not hooked deep. Also, when you get their heads through the hole, I'd scoop 'em out by hand instead of lifting with your rod.
Anglinarcher
1/17/2011 10:29:00 AMThe crappie should be suspended just below the ice, from two to maybe six feet down in that lake. They will move through in schools, so you may fish for an hour and get nothing then all of the sudden hit several, then dead again. It is hard to focus on the crappie when the perch are hitting, but that is what I have found that I needed to do IF I was series about getting papermouths there.
steel_lee
1/17/2011 11:28:00 AMThe surface was covered with water and the ice is 10-12 inches think. The top 8 inches is cloudy and the bottom 3 inches are clear. Is it safe to assume that what I am using for the perch should work for the crappie? Thanks for the tips now if the weather cooperates I will give it a go again next saturday.
aaron42ash
1/17/2011 3:39:00 PMLee, just wait for those Nuggies to show. Tip a teardrop jig with one like I showed you and keep jigging. It will really look like a wounded minnow if you do this. I would also move out another 50 yards or so and give it a try there if you want to chase crappies. Next weekend I have a work party I need to attend, but I hope to get some hours in on Saturday morning or sunday afternoon. Keep at it.
BMGW
1/17/2011 6:55:00 PMHey Steele, ask Jerry if he still has any of Dons Dandy Crappie jigs, white would be best...
Anglinarcher
1/18/2011 12:10:00 PMI don't know what you are using for perch, but most ice flies and small jigs will work just fine for crappie. I do not find that crappie like worms, or perch eyes, but tipping the bait with wax worms or maggots works well. Crappie are bug and minnow eaters, so try to copy one of those. As for color, that changes day to day, time of day, overcast to clear, ............ I normally start white, but I go through the spectrum pretty quick. Key, like aaron suggested, keep it moving. You may not need to move or jig it fast or extreme, often a slight movement is best, but if there is no movement you will seldom get crappie.
steel_lee
1/18/2011 12:18:00 PMThank you Anglinarcher,( love the name), and the rest for all your suggestions. I have armed myself with more jigs and real as well as artificial bait and 2 new ice fishing sticks, (10.00 at The Warehouse), now if I did not need to work I am pretty sure I could solve this crappie puzzle, but the wife says I have to. So until Saturday..........................
TroutCowboy
1/18/2011 6:32:00 PMLast time I was at Eloika, I met Jerry of Jerry's Landing. He said the crappie were right under the ice and the perch were near the bottom. I did not fish the bottom, but caught crappie right where he said they'd be. Good luck!