|
Crappie |
|
 |
Black Crappie
Common Names: Calico bass, strawberry bass, crappie, spotted
crappie.
Description: Anal fin almost the same size as the dorsal
fin. Color pattern of irregular dark splotches on a light background. Best
method of identification: black crappie has 7 or 8 spines in the dorsal fin.
White Crappie
Common Names: Crappie, silver crappie, bachelor, newlight.
Description: Anal fin almost the same size as the dorsal fin. Color
pattern of dark splotches arranged in vertical bands on a pale background. Best
method of identification: white crappie have 5 or 6 spines in the dorsal fin. |
Both white and black
crappie are found throughout Ontario lakes. However, it is the bays with stickups,
river and creek channels, bottomland lakes, and rock rip-rap areas that generally produce
the better catches as they like an abundance of cover that also offers shade. There
are no striking differences in the habits of these two species; however, it appears black
crappie seem to prefer stump or heavy brush areas more than white crappie. These
species spawn in April and May. Fishing success deteriorates during the summer
months as they move into deeper water. Anglers who can locate crappie in their
deeper haunts will find that these fish can be caught even during the summer.
Minnows and jigs, or a combination of the two, are the most
popular baits. Both can be fished in a variety of ways. Long shanked wire
hooks, No. 6 to No. 2, are the most common sizes used by minnow fishermen.
Fiberglass extension poles 8 to 12 feet long, fly rods, and cane poles are the types of
rods generally used. These are rigged with monofilament line, with a tensile
strength of 8 to 15 pounds, so crappie can be pulled from the brush upon hooking or
so the line is strong enough to pull free from snags by straightening out the wire hook.
Techniques
- Crappie in any particular body of water are the
first panfish to use the rivers as feeding grounds They usually begin this 1-2
weeks prior to iceout. However crappie don't move into rivers to spawn, they
come to feed up before the spawn. They head back into the lake to spawn on the
rocky shoals near soft, muddy and shallow water.
- Depending on Weather and water conditions, live
bait will work, on the other hand tubes and grubs presented under a sensitive
slip float can out produce live bait. A rule of thumb is, the colder the
weather is the better live bait works, the milder the conditions, the more
plastics, and small crankbaits work. I usually always fish with 1-1.5" tubes
presented under a float at Holland, and the hottest colour is pink/white. But,
always buy some minnows just in case, and stick with one colour the whole
trip. Some neutral colours also work well when fishing is slow. Colours like
smoke, black, and white.
- Floats with tinsel jigs about 1 foot down tipped
with a small minnow.
- Usually use a jig and grub combination. I like
using a black jig head and with grub. Also had alot of success in the spring
catching them on a fly rod using a small light coloured trout fly.
- I use the jig and minnow when the fishing is
slow. If the crappie are bitting well, I switch to a jig with a 1 1/2 or 2
inch grub. I have had some luck with yellow jig heads and lime green grubs.
White and yellow produce sometimes.
- Try using a slip float. By allowing the jig to
slip through the float you can acheive action on your jig without moving your
float out of place (deadly around docks or other structure). Also, choice of
jig style makes a big difference. In early spring I like a 1 inch curly tail
grub under a slip float for active feeding fish. Later in the spring, when
they start to spawn, a tube or tinsel jig and less jigging action produces
better.
- In Maine, Crappies like white and or chartruse
maribou streamers. They like many different colors, so if white doesn't work
try another color. I've had good luck on a Sourdahunk nymph which is nothing
more than tan chenille wrapped on a 6x long hook; wrap from the bend to the
hook eye. Try other colors as well, it's cheap and works.
- At Waterford Ponds: Find yourself some very
small minnows and try them about 3' below a small float. If it is a calm day,
look for rising fish and cast to them. You should also try any brush
overhanging the water. If you are going to try jigs I recommend small green or
white under a float.
- I have fished for crappies in Rice Lake as well
as in the river up to lock 19 in Peterborough. They are very well established
in the Peterborough area and I have been using a small jig, which I tyied
myself, under a slip float. This method has produced great catches for me. As
far as Rice lake I have caught large crappie at the north end at the stumps
using the same method.
- If crappies are inactive, the float method is
definitely the way to go. However, a slow steady retrieve with tiny tube jigs
works too.
Where to Find Them
- Great spring crappie fishing at the mouth of the
Maskinonge river (Cook Bay) in the spring. Try there for crappie and perch and
bonus pike. Usually fish hang around summer locations.
- I have fished for crappies in Rice Lake as well
as in the river up to lock 19 in Peterborough. They are very well established
in the Peterborough area and I have been using a small jig, which I tyied
myself, under a slip float. This method has produced great catches for me. As
far as Rice Lake, I have caught large crappie at the north end at the stumps
using the same method.
- Try the Trent Canal, below the first lock just
off hwy. #12 at Gamebridge (a few km north of Beaverton). It was great last
spring!
- South side of Lake Simcoe around Cook's Bay is a
good place to catch Crappie. Lake Couchiching is also a great place for them.
- Holland Landing is where you'll find them up
until the end of June (just in time for opening Bass). A good spot is the
railroad bridge on hwy#11, north of Newmarket & east of Bradford
especially if you don't have a boat. From there all the way up the river to
Cooks Bay (If you have a boat) is also very good.
- I've been fishing Rice Lake quite exclusively
for the past few years and recently i've noticed an increased population of
black crappies in the lake. I've caught a couple myself and have heard from
some of the marina operators that good sized crappies have been consistently
caught using small bass crankbaits. Some of the locals there have been using
small size minnow stickbaits such as the small Rapala countdown lures to
consistently nab crappies in the 3/4 to over 1 lb range.
How to Get There
Waterford Ponds
The boat ramp is on
Mechanics street. If you come in to Waterford from Brantford turn right on
Mechanics street, go about 2 Km up the road until you cross a set of train
tracks and come down a hill which opens to ponds on the left and right. Turn in
the parking lot on your right. If you cross the bridge you went too far. The
boat ramp is in the parking lot but is not visible from the road. The ramp is
basically gravel and shallow but is ok for bass boats or up to about an 18 foot
aluminum.
Halfway Heaven Marina
Right at the end of
404 in Newmarket. Go down to the end of Bathurst You could also head strait up
Younge St. to Hollands Landing; Bathurst is about a mile south of there.
Holland River
Take Highway 404 to the end
of Davis Road and make a left so that you are going West. When you hit Highway
11 (Yonge Street) make a right turn so that you are going north. You will be in
Bradford; watch for a bridge over the Holland River and for a bait store on your
right hand side. Fish on the north side of this bridge.
Keswick
Take Hwy 48 (Markham Road) north
to Ravenshoe Rd. (#32). Go west until #12, then right (north) to Keswick. Canals
are at foot of Irene Street. Maskinonge River is right in town of Keswick
(you'll go over it on #12).
Back to Tony's Fishing Guide
Click here back to Tony's homepage