Crappie Fishing Questions

[Rip-a-Lip]

I was watching Jimmy Houston here the other day and he was banging on some crappie pretty good. It looked like fun, but it didn't really interst me at the time becuase I spend most of my fishing time targeting Steelhead and Salmon. Tonight I was chatting with a buddy who's from the middle states and said they were fine tablefare. Since I've never fished for them, I was wondering if I could get some guidence on the time of year, places etc. to target some fish. Any help would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks, RIP

[FEAR NO FISH!]

Brownlee Reservoir in Richland, Oregon.
Late April, early May. That is when you can take them out by the bucket full. Fish at night using lanterns to draw them up. Or you can use the expensive green lights that you can get out of Cabelas. Use two small jigs on one line. Catch them two at a time! Crappie nibbles is a good secret too.

[Born to Fish]

FNF gives good advice on Brownlee. The Richland area is up on the north end of the reservoir in the very productive Powder River arm. A good source of information is Scottys Sport Shop at 521-785-3367.

The Crappie Nibblets real really make a difference in how many fish you catch, I use the yellow ones. Also, be prepared to catch a fair number of bass, particularly if you fish up close to the shoreline at that time of year.

Another really good bet is Owyhee Reservoir just southwest of Ontario. Usually people boat up lake where often the fishing can be better and you'll get into larger fish. However, you can catch 'em just about anywhere and on the upper end near the park and dam there are bank areas you can fish from. You can try calling the state park there for info on fishing and camping on the lake at 541-339-2331.

Good luck. :wink:

[GutshotApe]

Fern Ridge Res. near Eugene has crappies and there seems to be an abundance cycle of about ten years or so. At the peak of the cycle (early 1980s and early 1990s) several times I literally filled 5-gal bucket with nothing but 12"+ fish. I've caught many 13-14 inchers and the last one I caught there in 2000 was a tad over 16" long. Unfortunately that was about the only one I caught that year. The res. didn't fill in 2001 and in 2002 it filled, but there were no crappies. We are at the bottom of the cycle. But in a couple of years, assuming there has been a decent spawn year and not too many fish go over the dam, the crappies will make a comeback. 2003 could be good but I bet it will be at least 2004 before there are many 12 inchers around. Based on scale analysis ODFW's warmwater bio determined it takes 4 years for a FernRidge crappie to reach 12". Most crappie anglers there usually fish from shore with bobber & jig in open water and long 14' or 16' jig poles in the tules.
Crappies are fine table fare and a lot of fun to catch. :smile:

[ 12-09-2002, 05:29 AM: Message edited by: GutshotApe ]

[snowball]

chase crappies in the spring time when water temps start to climb above 57 degress. You'll find the in cover, and bay inlets. Spring time should find them in the northern parts of lakes. Locally, Hagg Lake, Willamette River and Lake Lacomas in washington are good bets.

[TEXAS RIG]

Brownlee is the best early may at night almost a fish on every cast.

[Plugcutter]

Prineville Reservoir east of Bend and south of the twon of Prineville! No one has even mentioned it. The lake has an estimated population of 1.4 million Crappie. Load 'em up! It would be great if ODFW would put a size restriction on at least one of the good Crappie lakes in the state. It would have a tremendous impact on the size of the fish. I've fished El Capitan in So. California (10" Minimum) and the fishing was fantastic.

Try a piece of perch belly on your jig.

[Sturgeonbait]

If you got a washington License there catching a crappie almost every cast at silver lake in the Toutle area. with a small jig near the surface

[ 12-11-2002, 05:42 PM: Message edited by: Sturgeonbait ]

[DaleDor]

I believe that Browlee Res. in E. Oregon is the best around, probably. Silver Lake in SW Washington is probably #2. I'm not too familiar with much of Oregon's other crappie hot spots, though. At Sprague Lake in E/Central Washington, some folks were getting gobs of fish in November, I think.

[Fishrite]

I fished with Texas Rig on Brownlee last year. There are plenty of fish for everyone. Night fishing is really fun. We brought back a couple of ice chests full of filets. I have also caught crappie in the Willamette River and at Sauvie's Island locally. One of the best trips I've had locally was in the Claskanie River mouth where it runs into the Columbia..... Fishrite