Lake UpChurch 15 Dec 2013

I heading out for a day of crappie fishing on UpChurch lake in Hope Mills, NC. I started out at Gus's Bait and Tackle around 9:30 for 2 dozen small minnows and was ready to hit the water. I started out right across from the boat ramp and landed a crappie on my first drift between 18 - 20 feet. I was finding crappie from 17 - 22 feet in UpChurch and finished the day with 8 crappie and 1 Bucketmouth. The Wind was a little factor, as it was pushing me around the lake but I was able to manage to land some fish. Here are some pic from today:

your pics arnt showing either hmm wonder whats goin on

Great job Rob.

crappieassassin wrote:your pics arnt showing either hmm wonder whats goin on

I can see the pics. Can everyone one else see them?

Coach let me know if you want to hunt some crappie! 

I can see the pics no problem.  Great job getting on fish.  It looked rough out there.

Did you have electronics to help you out?

I can see them now nice specks rob where the scattered or on structure? Did you fish the channel or just stayed right around the the ramp? My spot is directly across from the ramp and to the right a little bit might head back out there one day this week

Luni, I have a Lowrance Elite 5 DSI I use on my yak. I found the crappie in 17 to 22 feet. I landed the crappie on small minnows using the eagle claw crappie rig that has always worked great for me. Luni let me know if you want to see my setup of the fish finder.

After fishing it on Sunday the only thing the Cuda needs is an anchor trolley and fish finder.  There is a ton of storage on that boat for tackle and rods.

Set up an anchor trolley on my other yak easy enough so I just need to get around to getting that done.  In the meanwhile I'll be looking over reviews to figure out which unit to go for.  So far I've been using google earth to find creek channels and structure where I fish but I just don't have a good idea of bottom composition, deep structure, or where the fish are holding so my fall back pattern is always targeting shallow visible structure or tossing search baits with an educated guess.  Persistence is usually enough to put a fish in the boat but I've never really had a solid day where I figured out the fish and caught them consistently.

I certainly will let you know. Seems like when I'll be available you'll be out of town.

I've got the humminbird 386ci di and love it to death once I figured it out and rand when dropping baits and figuring out the gps on it man I dunno what I'd do with out it for crappie fishing bass fishing I just cast and hope for bites unless it's summer time then I know what to do this wintertime bass fishing is a little more than what I like lol

http://www.fishfindersource.com/shop-fish-finders-by-brand/lowrance-fish-finders/elite-5x-hdi-fish-finder-5-color-display/

Not sure I'll get a lot of use out of an integrated GPS unit on my fish finder.  I mostly fish smaller stuff and it wouldn't be worth it.  If I just need it for Nav I have a Garmin that I can bring with me.  The 5" combo sonar/DI unit looks really good at reasonable price.  I'm still looking around but can anybody recommend anything similar?

Also what depth do you have to fish to really use the fish fisher?  My favorite pond is 8ft deep max I think.  I could use it to map the bottom but I'd scare fish before I ever got a bait to them.

Luni- I really enjoy using my fish finder! The bodies of water I fish can range from very shallow to what I consider some deep water. When you start fishing bigger bodies of water like Lake Jordan and Harris the fish finder comes in handy! Having a fish finder on your rig year around will also help you locate structure to find the fish. Lowrance makes a great produce and the Elite series is one of the best bang for your buck out there! One of my recommendations for rigging your yak is to use the wire cap from west marine. Here is a link:
West Marine Wire Cap

The pond I got my PR largemouth on I know has some deep structure that has to hold fish.  The inlet is a bridge that the beavers have done their best to dam up with a rocky shore, pulled some small fish off there.  One side of the pond is completely shallows less than 2ft with grass bottom and the occasional small islands breaking the surface, in the summer it's all lily pads, definitely know where I'm going when the spawn comes around.  Google Earth has given up that there's a channel running from the bridge to the drainage.  Shore opposite the shallows has lots of overhangs, a small dock, some stumps, and more grass and lily pads, very fishy.  Now between the channel and that fishy shore it's DEEP.  I haven't found the bottom with a deep diving crank.  I did manage to pull a couple 3+ lbs LMB out of it when they were very aggressive and coming up to bust topwater and threw a trick worm at them.  That'll be one of the first places I cover with a fish finder and drop shot.  I know there's some fatties hiding down there.

As far as big water goes, one of the most discouraging things about fishing bigger water is not having any way to pick apart the deep stuff.  Working the banks when everything tells me the fish are holding off shore is just frustrating.

Gonna hold out and see if there are any deals on electronics around Christmas and drop an order to get a fish finder and some new tackle waiting for me when I get back in January.  Do we want to start planning a January trip to a winter honey hole?

We could start planning a trip somewhere in Jan. I was really thinking about fishing on New Years eve somewhere or News Years Day. I will be back from Indiana and the only days I cant do anything is on the Saturdays I am going to be volunteering at the Fly Fishing clinics. Here are the dates 4th, 18th and Feb 1st. Let me know what days are going to work for you guys!

I could probly do something on the 1st or the 18th I'm gonna go out there tomorrow till about 2 or 3 anyone's welcome to join

the 4th, 18 and Feb 1st are the date of the fly fishing clinic. I am volunteering my time to help out.

I get back on the 2nd and any weekend is free.  Not looking good for tomorrow unless I get completely cut loose from work.  Even then I have some paperwork to close out in the morning and an appointment at 1.  Only shot would be to load up the yak and head in at 1 and head straight to the water from there.

First time I've ever been disappointed about leaving town on leave.  Weather this weekend looks promising.  Wish I could get a day of fishing in before I took off but I need to be in DC by 5 on Friday.

Ordering up the Lowrance Elite 5x HDI.  What did you do with the transducer on your cuda?  Looks like mounting in the scupper with it hanging a little bit under is probably the way I'll go with the unit mounted on the center console.

Luni wrote:Ordering up the Lowrance Elite 5x HDI.  What did you do with the transducer on your cuda?  Looks like mounting in the scupper with it hanging a little bit under is probably the way I'll go with the unit mounted on the center console.

That's one nice piece of electronics!  I used the Lowrance transducer scupper mount kit with west marine through-deck wire cap and another wire cap with ram mount elite 5 in the front of the yak. I bought a wildgame deer feeder battery to use to power the finder and mounted it in the center section. Here are some pics and let me know if you have anymore questions.

Lowrance transducer scupper mount kit with west marine through-deck wire cap:


Lowrance Elite-5 DSI GPS/Sonar with wire cap:


12v Wildgame Deer feeder battery to power the lowrance fish finder:

I thought about the forward RAM mount just for ease of mounting but its to far forward to reach any of the controls and see fine detail on a 5 inch screen.  I can barely manage a rod up there.  I noticed you put a RAM ball on the console and keep your forward rod there.  I'll probably mount the lowrance closest towards me with the rod holder behind it and bracket the battery into the top of the console.  With my mounting location centered right in front of me I think I can get away with only punching holes in the console.

Definitely taking your scupper mount idea though.  Very clean and looks fairly out of the way.

I'll be stopping off at Cabelas or Bass Pro on the way home to pick up some crappie gear and the rest of the fish finder mounting stuff.  Hopefully everything shows up in time and I'll be on the water this weekend with electronics.  Looks like decent weather.

I hope you get everything and get a chance to hit the water this weekend! Post up some pics of your new rig with all the new gear when you get the chance! Good luck hunting the Crappie!