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How To Catch Crappies In Backwaters

How To Catch Crappies In Backwaters

Catch Crappies In BackwatersIf you've never fished the dark, cypress-studded rivers that snake through the southern and eastern coastal regions of the U.S., you've not lived a complete panfishing life. Tidal flows, vast and small, affected by lunar cycles and wind, are home to a multitude of panfish species. Bull bluegills, fat shellcrackers, and slab crappies are quite at home in the blackwaters. Imagine miles and miles of shoreline cypress, ditches, cuts, guts, embayments, no-name creeks, and tributaries by the thousands. An angler couldn't live long enough to fish even a fraction of it all.

Jeffrey Abney is giving it his best shot. A nuclear submarine technician from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, he fishes part of this vast panfish paradise in the northeast portion of the state in quest of all species. But at certain times of the year, the abundant blackwater crappies become his primary target. River systems like the Northwest, North, Pasquotank, Yopeum, Little, and Chowan are his playground. His approach employs a number of telescoping fiberglass poles, sensitive floats, and a bucket of small shiners to swing 1,500 to 2,000 blackwater crappies a year over the gunwale.

How To Catch Crappies: Tides

Catch Crappies In BackwatersAnyone who has fished tidal waters knows the importance of lunar cycles — that estuaries change from high to low tide approximately every 6.5 hours. Most anglers agree that fishing during the last few hours of an incoming tide or the first few hours of an outgoing tide tend to see more feeding activity by many species, crappies included. Either side of high tide, increased water flow and flooding in shallows and creeks get invertebrates such as grass shrimp, minnows, and other panfish morsels, on the move and more vulnerable to capture. Cold fronts, precipitation, sunlight, and especially, wind, affect this pattern.

Wind enters the picture in a big way in the rivers of Albermarle Sound, which Abney frequently fishes. A strong wind out of the northwest to northeast sweeps across the vast open waters of the Sound, which flows generally north to south, and "pulls" water out of the rivers and creeks, creating a "wind-tide" effect that overrides the lunar cycle. This can create a large region of low tidal levels in these rivers for several days. When a strong southerly or southeast wind persists, waters from the sound are pushed back into the tributaries. The direction of wind affects each river system in a slightly different way, and water levels can vary.

Abney says that on high or flood tide conditions, most big crappies hold tight to fallen cypress trees, submerged cypress knees, and under docks, pilings, and other artificial structures. He finds crappies 2 to 4 feet deep, depending on water depth around the wood. When the wind-tide pulls water out of the Sound and river levels drop, he fishes slightly off the woodcover in water about 5 to 6 feet deep. Tidal slabs in blackwater swamps seldom venture far from wood.

Sunlight affects crappie location, especially during the prespawn, fall, and early winter. As these tannin-stained waters are literally black, they can warm several degrees in areas of prolonged sunlight. In March and April, before foliage envelopes the shoreline, areas that have northern and northwest pockets and embayments receive more sunlight. By late afternoon water temperatures can rise 2 to 5 degrees above that of surrounding waters, drawing prespawn crappies regardless of tidal effects. This can vary slightly from one river system to the next. Small and isolated pockets can draw hordes of crappies at this time.

Sun-warmed shallows are a late-fall option as well. In late October 2013, I fished with Abney on the Northwest River, an intricate tidal system that meanders near the Virginia-North Carolina border. A record cold front had dropped water temperatures 10 to 12 degrees during the previous several days, and my hopes of putting a few crappies in the livewell were doubtful. By fishing sun-warmed pockets and wood structures, we managed to beat the cold and iced a respectable batch of black crappies off of two separate structures. One was a shallow, wood-infested point and the other a dock exposed to afternoon sun. Water temperatures rebounded from 54°F to 60°F and those fish responded well to minnow-tipped jigs set 5 feet below sensitive foam bobbers.

How To Catch Crappies: Lairs for Slabs

Catch Crappies In BackwatersOne of the problems with fishing tidal blackwaters of the coastal rivers of the Carolinas and to some degree the Delmarva tidal flows, is that every place looks incredibly fishy with an abundance of wood structure, both natural and manmade. Shallow, stumpy canals and sloughs that may only be 2 feet deep at high tide draw spawning crappies. Check embayments off of the main flow as they can hold spawning fish that seldom see a minnow. And don't bypass subdivision canals, excavated coves, or ditches and guts that angle off major tributary arms. At times, terrific fishing can be had within a hundred yards of a public launch that has these features.

In October and November, crappies relate to standing and fallen cypress near 4 to 6 feet of water. A warm spell can push them shallower, but deeper wood and docks are better. Sunken barges or vessels in 5 feet of water or deeper are year-round draws. Many coastal rivers average only 6 to 10 feet deep, and crappie location seems to be more affected by cover than depth. Crappies prefer wood structures that provide refuge from tides and feeding opportunities.

Not all East Coast flows have abundant cypress trees. On the Maryland and Virginia sides of the Potomac River, crappie activity centers around marina docks, fallen hardwood trees, and sun-warmed bulkheads and riprap. Virginia's Occoquan River hosts numerous docks and marinas that don't fill their slips until later in May and June, giving crappie anglers a shot at wood-hugging, prespawn, and spawning fish. Casting to these structures with 1/16-ounce jig-and-minnow combinations with light spinning gear, dock shooting, and tight-lining jigs works well.

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Hot spots in spring and fall on the Delmarva Peninsula are heads of tidal rivers and creeks that have been impounded and have a spillway or "tumblehole" immediately below the mill pond dam. At some of these locations, tide is minimal and crappies spawn on shallow, sandy shoals or banks where water temperature and depth remain relatively stable. Access is often limited so most fishing is from the shoreline. One of the best approaches is casting bobber-jig-minnow combinations to bedding areas, with most fish caught in 2 to 3 feet of water. The spillway bite can be sensational to sporadic, as heavy spring rains can muddy the waters and push spawning fish downstream and disorient them until the waters clear. Irrigation canals connected to feeder creeks also can host a flush of big crappies that, traditionally, only the locals know about.

How To Catch Crappies: Pole and Line Savvy

Jeffrey Abney uses long poles to reach way back into thick woodcover for blackwater slabs.

Fishing with telescoping poles can be a superior method in blackwaters, especially when scoping out thick woodcover for fish that are shallow most of the year. Abney is a pole-and-line guru who uses few other options for tidal crappies. Blackwaters allow close presentations without spooking fish and pinpoint deliveries on complex fallen and submerged wood structures.

He rigs with 10- or 12-pound-test monofilament such as Trilene XT or original Stren Fluorescent Clear Blue. Lines this heavy make some panfish enthusiasts shiver, but there's good reason for the beefy string. Abney finds that the dark water doesn't require ultrathin, clear monos that are standard for most clearer lakes and rivers. Crappies tend to be less spooky here, and heavier line stands up to larger predators he encounters — channel catfish to 10 pounds, bowfin to 30 inches, and largemouths to 7 pounds­ — all on poles with attached, fixed lines. Also, wrestling a 14-inch crappie or pounder coppernose bluegill from the jungle isn't light-duty stuff. Strong line allows hook straightening when you get snagged. Keep a small hook hone handy to touch them up after a recovery.

Poles allow you to reach fish right in thick cover. Abney owns 27 different setups and favors the Bream Buster and Black Widow poles made by B&M Pole Company. Other models from Bass Pro Shops Uncle Buck Crappie Pole series are also in his rod locker. Lengths vary from 10 to 16 feet. Most of his swamp work is done with 10- and 12-footers. If he needs to keep distance from structure, he pulls out a 14- or 16-footer for long-distance lobbing.

Line length should be the same length as the extended pole. Tie the monofilament to the rod just behind the tip-top guide with a clinch knot. Then, wrap 8 to 10 wraps just behind the tip and then feed it through the eyelet. Using this technique, the eyelet won't pull out of the pole tip section when a 5-pound largemouth shows up.

Abney secures a jig to the line with either a Palomar or improved clinch knot. Then he pegs a small, in-line foam bobber on the line so the jig fishes at the desired depth. Many of his fish are caught from 2 to 4 feet below the float, and for shallow fish he likes a 10-foot pole. If cold fronts push crappies deeper, he pegs the float at 5 to 6 feet deep on a 12- or 13-foot pole. He keeps 6 or 8 poles on board, each prerigged with the most recent effective color and jig style.

Silent Stinger jigs by David Eitutis.

The best jigs are 1/32- and 1/64-ounce hair jigs that mimic a grass shrimp or small minnow. His favorites include the Gronaw Grass Shrimp patterns and the beadhead Silent Stinger jigs tied by David Eitutis of Troy Grove, Illinois. Tipped jigs seem to outperform either plain bait or plain jigs.

Grass shrimp are an abundant panfish prey species in this region and a prime jig-tipping agent in early spring through early summer. Tipping with minnows works better in fall and early winter. Crickets also catch their share of crappies during the postspawn, usually May into June. For the past several years, pink has been a good color in blackwater rivers, with olive, beige, silver, and chartreuse catching their share of fish.

Gronaw's Grass Shrimp.

Abney probes likely cover by easing up with his trolling motor and dropping jig-and-float rigs tight to the structure, and systematically working through the cover. He probes every available side of a cypress stump, sunken barge, or pier piling before moving to the next spot. Having fished these waters since the early 1990s, he has a good eye for what does and doesn't hold crappies. Some pockets and structures produce slabs every year, while other spots change over time, with coastal storms and high water events reshaping the shoreline, as new lumber falls and other wood gets washed away.

Every season brings something new. That's how it is in the blackwaters, it all looks good, and much of it produces crappies.

Florida

Sunshine State crappie fans have no shortage of choices when it comes to slab-producing fishing holes. The short list of hotspots includes the St. Johns River, Harris Chain, lakes Harney, Kississimmee, Monroe, Rodman, Talquin, Toho, and Orange, but you could spend a lifetime exploring all the options. Contacts: Guide Steve Niemoeller (St. Johns), 386/846-2861, cflfishing.com; Guide Mike Baker (Orange Lake) 352/625-1180, thecrappiefisherman.com; Florida FWC, myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/sites-forecast/crappie.

Illinois

The Land of Lincoln is also home to stellar crappie fishing, with lakes such as Kinkaid, Rend, and Shelbyville routinely ranking high among the country's finest fisheries. But what finally pushed it onto our list were two straight 17-inch-plus entries in the Master Angler Awards Program. In fact, the state topped Region 1 and national entries in 2011 and 2012 with 17½- and 17-inch giants. The largest of those fish was from Crystal Lake, the other from a farm pond. Contacts: Guide Clint Taylor (Rend Lake), 618/731-0323, crappieextreme.com; Guide Steve Welch (Shelbyville), 217/762-7257, lakeshelbyvilleguide.com.

Iowa

Our selection of the Hawkeye State might surprise a few anglers, but In-Fisherman Master Angler Awards don't lie. Already in 2013, the state broke the 17-inch barrier with a gravel pit slab landed by Austin Hronich of West Des Moines, and since 2010 it has produced at least one award winner topping 16 inches each season, and twice has seen multiple 16-inchers recognized. Almost invariably, these fish are credited to a 'farm pond ' or 'pit, ' highlighting the potential of the state's small waters. However, a number of natural and manmade lakes offer excellent opportunities, as do oxbows and backwaters of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Contacts: Iowa Department of Natural Resources, iowadnr.gov; Guide Kevan Paul (Clear Lake, Storm Lake, Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji), 641/529-2359, paulsfishingguide.com.

Texas

Don't let the world-class bass fishing fool you, the Lone Star State is a stellar destination for oversize crappies as well. Phenomenal Lake Fork is a prime example. Numbers of slabs topping 2 pounds are possible in a variety of seasons and settings, from the early summer brushpile bite to the late-season deep-water blitz near the dam. Other top options include Cedar Creek, Choke Canyon, the Concho River, Falcon, Lake O' the Pines, O.H. Ivie, Richland Chambers, and the border waters of Toledo Bend — just to name a few. Contacts: Guide Ivan Martin (Lake Fork), 918/260-7743; Guide Terri Moon (Lake Fork), 903/383-7773; Texas Parks and Wildlife, 800/792-1112, tpwd.state.tx.us.

Mississippi

Home to the unrivaled 'Arc of Slabs, ' which includes the hallowed waters of Arkabutla, Enid, Grenada, and Sardis, the Magnolia State could easily argue for top honors on the list. Perhaps nowhere else on the planet do anglers have a better shot at catching big white crappies, including giants topping 3 pounds. In-Fisherman Editor In Chief Doug Stange notes the fishing is good year-round, but peak fishing starts in mid- to late March for prespawn giants. Contacts: Guide John Woods, 731/334-9669; Guide John Harrison, 662/983-5999.

Minnesota

Upper Red Lake's fishery may be a shadow of its former self, but other big waters including Mille Lacs and Rainy lakes, along with the St. Louis and Mississippi rivers, to name a few, more than take up the slack. Plus, countless smaller natural lakes across the state offer solid chances for 1½- to 2-pound-plus fish for anglers willing to tap systems with healthy numbers of older year classes, and avoid the crowds when possible. Need proof? Troy Smutka's Lake Waconia 16½-incher (pictured) was the second-largest crappie entry among all 2012 Master Angler entries. Contacts: Guide Dick 'The Griz ' Grzywinski, 651/771-6231, fishwiththegriz.com; Guide Jeff Sundin, 218/246-2375, jeffsundin.com.

Oklahoma

In-Fisherman friend and crappie guru Todd Huckabee's home lake — Eufaula — is among the best on the planet for slabs topping 2 and even 3 pounds. But the lake's shallow, muddy, fertile waters are only part of the reason the Sooner State claimed a spot on our list. Fort Gibson is another, given its ability to kick out 2-pound-plus white crappies, especially when riding a year-class boom. Grand, Kaw, and Oologah are standouts, too. Contacts: (Eufaula) Guide Todd Huckabee, toddhuckabee.net; Guide Barry Morrow, barrymro.com; Blue Heron Bait and Tackle, 918/334-5528; Larry's Bait and Tackle (Fort Gibson), 918/478-3225; Guide Rocky Thomas, Jr. (Grand, Oologah) 918/837-0490, thomasguideservice.com.

Kentucky/Tennessee

As a bonus to readers and in hopes of preventing a border battle over the fabled 'Crappie Capital ' of Kentucky Lake, I lumped these two states together for this entry. Both are worthy of top 10 status in their own rights, but together the options are nothing short of phenomenal. Besides Kentucky Lake, which is primed to produce big catches of quality-sized fish, including slabs topping 2 pounds, Tennessee offers the stump-laden fishery of legendary Reelfoot Lake, plus Pickwick, Chickamauga, Douglas, and numerous other gems. Kentucky's assets include Cumberland and Green River Lake. Did I mention that the states also share Barkley? Crappie fans could do far worse than plan a trip tag-teaming these two states' fine fisheries. Contacts: (Kentucky Lake) Guide Randy Kuhens, 270/703-6133, kicknbass.net; Guide Steve McCadams, stevemccadams.com.

Virginia/North Carolina

Like Kentucky and Tennessee, these two states share one of the world's top crappie lakes. In this case, it's Kerr Lake, also affectionately known as Buggs Island. This border treasure offers amazing numbers of fish to 1¾ pounds, along with an honest shot at 2- and 3-pound trophies. Other Virginia standouts include Anna and Briery Creek, while North Carolina highlights include Falls of Neuse, High Rock, and Jordan, among other fine waters. Contacts: (Kerr Lake) Guide Bud Haynes, 434/374-0308; Guide Keith Wray, 434/635-0207; Bobcats Bait and Tackle, 434/374-8381; Guide Jerry Neely (High Rock), 704/678-1043.




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