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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Crappie Fishing
March 9, 2008
Crappies, also known as speckled perch in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, are fun to catch and great to eat. The best daytime fishing is in the spring when large schools move to shallow water. Most are caught on small jigs or live crappie minnows. Don’t be concerned if you miss the spring spawn. Crappies can be caught in deeper water throughout the year.
When spawning is complete, crappies will move off the banks and locate near bridge pilings, boat houses and submerged brush piles. They are very active when the surface water cools after dark. Night fishermen use lanterns and fluorescent lights to attract bait fish, which in turn, attract crappies and other predators. Green glow lights, suspended above or below the water, work well. Lights are available in lengths from 12" to 48.” They not only attract fish, but also illuminate the fishing area, which makes it easier to maneuver in the dark.
Boat houses offer shade, cover and cool water conditions that crappie enjoy. Many anglers pitch jigs around boat house door openings. If you can fish from within a boat house, that’s even better.
Under the cover of darkness, serious crappie fishermen sink Christmas trees and other woody debris to form underwater brush piles. They only fish these “secret” holes when the area is void of other crappie fishermen. Christmas trees are popular, but they deteriorate more quickly than hardwood brush and must be replenished every year.
Small reels on long fiberglass fishing rods have all but replaced the once popular cane poles. Either will catch crappies on light line with an adjustable float and a tiny jig or minnow. A light-weight closed faced spinning outfit is also effective when fishing under boat docks and near partially submerged brush.
The key to catching crappie is to fish “gently.” Move the bait ever so slowly, give the fish plenty of time to nibble, and play it carefully to the boat. The larger the crappie, the more likely its body weight will pull the small hook from its soft mouth.
The state creel limit for crappie is 20 per angler per day, with an 8" minimum size limit on Lake Norman. Crappie can grow to 8" in length within twelve months. After that, the weight gain slows to about 1" per year. Large crappie (12” or more) are known as "slabs.” Slabs are prized by fishermen for their great fighting ability on light tackle.
Crappie fishing is a family sport and a culinary delight. Give it a try!
Tips from Capt. Gus!
Experiment with different colors and tails when using jigs to lure crappies. At times, fish prefer twister tails over tubes, or jigs dressed with Malibu hair. When all else fails, use a plain jig-head tipped with a live minnow.
Upcoming Events:
A seminar on “How to Catch LKN Pan Fish” will be held at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 in Mooresville, NC at 6:30 P.M. on Tuesday March 11, 2008. This two-hour free session will focus on the “how to’s” of catching bream, white perch, and catfish from boat docks, shores and area ponds. The class, conducted by fishing guide Mac Byrum, Capt. Craig Price and myself, is designed for children and adults.
Mitchell Community College in Mooresville is offering a new course entitled, “Choosing the Right Fishing Boat.” This two-hour session is designed to help you decide which type of boat and accessories will best serve your fishing needs. The class will be on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 6:30 P.M. For more information, call 704 663 1923.
On Thursday, March 20, 2008, Light House Marine Services will offer an instructional boating course entitled, “How to Safely Navigate Lake Norman.” Topics will include Understanding LKN’s Marker and Buoy System, Identifying and Learning to Avoid the Ten Most Dangerous Shoals, and How to Use and Interpret Lake Maps. The registration fee for the three-hour class is $25.00. The class begins at 6:00 P.M. at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 Mooresville, NC. To register, or for more information, call Lt. Scott Spivey – 704 587 0325 or visit www.lmservice.org.
The Hot Spots of the Week are the long shallow points in Reeds and Davidson Creeks and the other major creek arms throughout the lake. Stripers are taking both live and artificial baits. Bass are hitting soft plastic lures around docks and brush. White perch are hitting small jigs in less than ten feet of water.
The lake level is currently 4.3’ below full pond and continues to rise. The water surface temperature is in the mid upper fifties.
Captain Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is an outdoor columnist and a full time professional fishing guide on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his web site, Fishin' With Gus! at www.FishingWithGus.com or call 704-617-6812.
For additional information e-mail Gus at Gus@LakeNorman.com
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