2023 crappie thread!!!

[Slew]

Well the years started our great for me but not for fishing!! I was supposed to get after them today but my FIL took a turn for the worse and momma went up to be with him so I’ve been playing Mr Mom. They should be bunched up deep this time of year on most lakes! Plan on getting after em next week and tourney season cranks up the 21st in Texas for us and nationally Feb 3-4th! Got a few more ducks of geese to kill before then and then the slabs better hide!!

[Montec man]

The strong cold front over Christmas weekend finally got them to go deep and school up. I've been finding them suspended 8 to 10 feet deep on 20 to 25 feet of water, that's about as deep as you can find where I fish. Mostly on deep creek bends with no cover, but rather around shad, which means you have to deal with a lot of white bass as well. They sure like Slater's jigs as well

[bloodstick]

I’ve already started catching them in creeks in 5 ft of water. Granted, we were near a 15 foot edge, but they were shallow and gorging on shad. Wife put two absolute units in the boat today and one managed to escape the fish basket !!!




Oh yea, ran into a pile of these guys too




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[Snowflake Killa]

Following

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[hogslayer78]

Tagged....

I seen there was a crappie masters today on Rayburn. Figured you was fishing it Slew

[GLM]

Looking forward to crappie fishing on Toledo Bend this spring.

[Quackerbox]

My kid went chasing them last week up a creek and blanked. Small ditch pickles. Couple more weeks and I'll give them a go

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[TeamAmerica]

Haven't caught any lately but cooked some last night! Kids are fighting over the crappie cakes.

[tminc]

Those look yummy got a recipe?

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[Slew]

Originally Posted by TeamAmerica

Haven't caught any lately but cooked some last night! Kids are fighting over the crappie cakes.

I still haven’t made those!! It’s only been 2-3 years though! I’ll get around to it!

[Texas Grown]

Originally Posted by TeamAmerica

Haven't caught any lately but cooked some last night! Kids are fighting over the crappie cakes.

Are you for hire?

The fish are biting and there's hogs to be kill-t. Gotta go!

[C.Read]

Plan on trying to find some next weekend on Toledo. Probably still too early for the creek run but we are going to try anyway.

[ElfEyes]

What's better for creek fishing minnows or jigs?

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[Snowflake Killa]

Originally Posted by TeamAmerica

Haven't caught any lately but cooked some last night! Kids are fighting over the crappie cakes.

You should make some at the get together

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[hogslayer78]

Originally Posted by Snowflake Killa

You should make some at the get together

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I will second this

[TeamAmerica]

Man I know to stay in my lane! These are way too high class for some porter trash!

[hogslayer78]

Originally Posted by TeamAmerica

Man I know to stay in my lane! These are way too high class for some porter trash!

Yeah your probably right! We need more squirrel tacos

[bloodstick]

Originally Posted by ElfEyes

What's better for creek fishing minnows or jigs?

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I tried both in the creek last saturday. Minnows were the only thing the crappie wanted, and ditch pickles as well.
We were sitting in 8 ft of water, throwing to 5 ft and the bait was on slip corks 18-24” deep.


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[Drop Tine]

I gotta go fishing with Marty to make some of those crappie cakes. Looks delicious!

[Bobcat13]

Found a good pile with my in-laws the other day!
Crappie cakes look awesome, gonna have to try!

[Snowflake Killa]

Originally Posted by TeamAmerica

Man I know to stay in my lane! These are way too high class for some porter trash!

I know that you probably have a problem with catching fish. I will bring the filets

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[ElfEyes]

Originally Posted by bloodstick

I tried both in the creek last saturday. Minnows were the only thing the crappie wanted, and ditch pickles as well.
We were sitting in 8 ft of water, throwing to 5 ft and the bait was on slip corks 18-24” deep.


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Thanks I've never tried fishing for them in creeks but I have a pretty good idea of a place that should hold a few once they head towards them.

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[Slew]

Originally Posted by Snowflake Killa

I know that you probably have a problem with catching fish. I will bring the filets

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We don’t want bass fillets!!

First day out of 2023 and it was tough! Haven’t been on LOP in a while but they managed 20. Big fish but numbers sucked. They had a gallon and a 1/4 bag full of fillets with 20 crappie though. That’s some slabs. Taking the kiddos deer hunting this weekend and then get back after the slabs. Had my hands full the last few months.

[flywise]

I was thinking about this today. Last year I went with RiverRat1 on the Colorado in March I believe but he said February is typically great. I guess I better get the poles ready

[Kingfisher789]

Just curious. In the spring w crappie is it about water temperature or does outside temp matter?

[Possum9]

Care to share the crappie cake recipe?

[Slew]

Originally Posted by Kingfisher789

Just curious. In the spring w crappie is it about water temperature or does outside temp matter?

Water temp and amount of daylight.

[Edward F]

Originally Posted by Slew

Water temp and amount of daylight.

Can you elaborate on the amount of daylight?

[Kingfisher789]

Thank you. So temp got to 80 today partly cloudy I suppose they would have been in a bite?

[TeamAmerica]

Originally Posted by Possum9

Care to share the crappie cake recipe?

Crappie Cakes

Bring water and two tablespoons of old bay seasoning to a boil

Boil 1 to 1.5 lbs of crappie meat for 3 minutes (refrigerate for at least an hour if possible). Crappie should be white and falling apart.

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard

2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley optional

1/2 Cup Chopped Green onion

1/2 Cup panko Bread Crumbs

Preheat the broiler.

In a large bowl, combine the egg yolk, salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire, green onion, mayonnaise, and parsley. Then, gently fold in meat (be careful not to break up the lumps, here you will be adding in the CHILLED crappie). Sprinkle on bread crumbs and lightly mix. Shape into cakes and broil for 5 minutes (or air fry). Or sautee in pan with butter or olive oil. Sometimes make them silver dollar sized for apps. Feeds 3 to 5 adults.

ONCE YOU TRY THIS A FEW TIMES, IT'S EASIER TO MAKE. BOILING THE FISH THE DAY BEFORE CUTS THE WORK IN HALF. ADJUST THE INGRIDENTS TO YOUR TASTE. ADD OR OMIT ANYTHING YOU LIKE.

[tminc]

Thank you sir,I have kin around grenada lake in mississipi,headed that way nxt month

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[Texas Grown]

Originally Posted by TeamAmerica

Crappie Cakes

Bring water and two tablespoons of old bay seasoning to a boil

Boil 1 to 1.5 lbs of crappie meat for 3 minutes (refrigerate for at least an hour if possible). Crappie should be white and falling apart.

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard

2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley optional

1/2 Cup Chopped Green onion

1/2 Cup panko Bread Crumbs

Preheat the broiler.

In a large bowl, combine the egg yolk, salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire, green onion, mayonnaise, and parsley. Then, gently fold in meat (be careful not to break up the lumps, here you will be adding in the CHILLED crappie). Sprinkle on bread crumbs and lightly mix. Shape into cakes and broil for 5 minutes (or air fry). Or sautee in pan with butter or olive oil. Sometimes make them silver dollar sized for apps. Feeds 3 to 5 adults.

ONCE YOU TRY THIS A FEW TIMES, IT'S EASIER TO MAKE. BOILING THE FISH THE DAY BEFORE CUTS THE WORK IN HALF. ADJUST THE INGRIDENTS TO YOUR TASTE. ADD OR OMIT ANYTHING YOU LIKE.

You need to copy this into the recipe forum for future reference. Sounds amazing!

The fish are biting and there's hogs to be kill-t. Gotta go!

[Slew]

Originally Posted by Edward F

Can you elaborate on the amount of daylight?

As the days get longer the fish know its time to do their thing and they head that direction. In my area they usually spawn in waves from March through May often tied to the full moon. That said I'm the wrong person to be chiming in about spawning crappie! I hate fishing the spawn!

[Slew]

Originally Posted by tminc

Thank you sir,I have kin around grenada lake in mississipi,headed that way nxt month

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Looks like its only 20.5' low! That's not bad for this time of year! Your hitting it right, get there before the tourney guy get em all stirred up in March!

[Edward F]

Originally Posted by Slew

As the days get longer the fish know its time to do their thing and they head that direction. In my area they usually spawn in waves from March through May often tied to the full moon. That said I'm the wrong person to be chiming in about spawning crappie! I hate fishing the spawn!

Thanks for the insight!! Is it better to fish during a full moon then?

I love the spawn, I don’t own a boat!

[Slew]

Originally Posted by Edward F

Thanks for the insight!! Is it better to fish during a full moon then?

I love the spawn, I don’t own a boat!

It’s best to fish whoever you can!!

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Slew

It’s best to fish whoever you can!!

I agree, fish WHENEVER you can. I haven't been fishing since before Thanksgiving last year. Then both my boys and I got the Flu. I just had a mild relapse, I assume the prescription didn't knock mine completely out. Hopefully the steroid the doc gave me will. I feel good enough that I hope to give it a try tomorrow or Sunday. Hopefully the wind will cooperate.

[Snowflake Killa]

Originally Posted by TeamAmerica

Crappie Cakes

Bring water and two tablespoons of old bay seasoning to a boil

Boil 1 to 1.5 lbs of crappie meat for 3 minutes (refrigerate for at least an hour if possible). Crappie should be white and falling apart.

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard

2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley optional

1/2 Cup Chopped Green onion

1/2 Cup panko Bread Crumbs

Preheat the broiler.

In a large bowl, combine the egg yolk, salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire, green onion, mayonnaise, and parsley. Then, gently fold in meat (be careful not to break up the lumps, here you will be adding in the CHILLED crappie). Sprinkle on bread crumbs and lightly mix. Shape into cakes and broil for 5 minutes (or air fry). Or sautee in pan with butter or olive oil. Sometimes make them silver dollar sized for apps. Feeds 3 to 5 adults.

ONCE YOU TRY THIS A FEW TIMES, IT'S EASIER TO MAKE. BOILING THE FISH THE DAY BEFORE CUTS THE WORK IN HALF. ADJUST THE INGRIDENTS TO YOUR TASTE. ADD OR OMIT ANYTHING YOU LIKE.

Thanks

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[Snowflake Killa]

Originally Posted by Edward F

Thanks for the insight!! Is it better to fish during a full moon then?



I love the spawn, I don’t own a boat!

I own a boat, and I still love fishing the spawn . Turn of the electronics and get to chunkin

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[RiverRat1]

Originally Posted by flywise

I was thinking about this today. Last year I went with RiverRat1 on the Colorado in March I believe but he said February is typically great. I guess I better get the poles ready

I have my boat here just waiting... But river is too low. Would have to launch 10 miles down on the Lake and drive up.

But you may be the only boat on the water!

[Buff]

I made the move over to our new house on Sandlin. We have been beating them up in 50 foot of water.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Buff

I made the move over to our new house on Sandlin. We have been beating them up in 50 foot of water.

Attachment 1115969



Attachment 1115970

Indeed you have. Nice!

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[Texas Grown]

Nice work Buff!







I'm still try-n ti figure out where the hole is for the corn to go into the livescope. I'ma guess-n it goes through the cable. And is dispensed through the transducy thing under the boat? And this is what makes the crappie come? SMH!

[Trumpkin]

Anyone care to help a fly fisher out with Crappie and bass around central Texas? I have a canoe, and a lot of experience catching everything BUT crappie and white bass. If I want to hit a creek and put some fish on a stringer do I need to wait for some warmer weather? More water in the creeks? I'm assuming they're like lake/sea run trout, that move once the spawn is close, or when the water comes up?

And if it's pre spawn, what habitat should I target? Got a rule of thumb on minimum water depth? Focus on brush? None of the above?

[rut-ro]

Don't fish the lakes as i don't have a boat. But my crappie at the farm are going to be better this year than any other. We have 4 lakes that I have stocked with Black Crappie 5 years ago. 3 times a year I put 20 pounds of minnows in each pond along with some small bluegill. a couple weeks ago I went out and jigged some form the bank and caught 10 in 15 minutes. they were right at or over a pound. My biggest one is 2 pounds and I caught several just under. Its been fun trying to keep the numbers up while letting them grow.

[rut-ro]

Pics from one of last years catches

[Slew]

Was hoping to get to prefish Cross Lake some this weekend before the off limits but that's not gonna happen! Either way 2 weeks from the first national event of the year! Can't wait!!

[ateague11]

Can’t wait to get back on the water this spring.

[Cycloneb]

Any body know a good spot for crappies around San Antonio area

[duckmanep]

wonder how long before Buff finds my honey hole lake....

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