Crappie Hunt 2014

There's been a lot of talk across multiple threads about getting together to hunt down slabs.  Figured it was about time we consolidated into one general chat thread instead of trying to plan across a couple different threads.

There isn't a perfect weekend for everybody so we'll throw up trip planning here as the weeks go by.  If you guys want to PM me your phone numbers it will help with day-of coordination so we can get everybody to to the boat ramp at the same time.

I'll be on the water this weekend Saturday afternoon and/or Sunday.  Need to break in the new rod.  Fish finder won't get here until next week so unless someone with electronics wants to take the lead I'll be hitting up the gamelands.  Small water, easy to find fish and figure them out without electronics.

Weekend of 1/12-1/13 I'll have a fish finder and I plan on using the crap out of it.  Thinking Lake Upchurch, get on some of the deep channel crappie that hemi has been scooping up.

Unless something changes I'll be out of town MLK weekend.

Post up your plans, reports, and tips here and we'll start 2014 right with tight lines and full stringers.

You know I'm down but if this wind isn't gone doubt I'll go crappie fishin in the wind SUCK!

I am down to fish on the 12th of January on Upchurch!

I'm going to head out tomorrow afternoon.  I'd like to try drifting the channel at upchurch.  I've got a pretty good idea where it's at from google earth even without the lowrance yet.  I'll also be bumping a jig to try to target some bass hiding on the bottom.  If I wuss out on Upchurch I might put in a different cypress pond that I haven't fished in a while to see if I can jig some fish out of the roots.  They're close to each other.

Don't know how much you guys pay attention to solunar tables for active fish times but the more I see the more I'm starting to think they hold some credibility.  Bite should pick up from 3PM to sundown on what would otherwise be a cold post-front day.

Good luck out there Luni!

Shoot me a txt when u figure out where your going I need my fishin fix lol

Crappieassassin (probably) and myself will be in Southern Pines tomorrow.  Truck is getting some quick work done at Pinehurst Toyota first thing in the morning and then I'm looking to put in around lunch time.  Pages Lake, Watson Lake, and Reservoir Park are on the hit list.  If any of the locals want to come out of hibernation tomorrow afternoon post up.

I would be good with the morning of the 11th Sundays are out for me but I am good most week days also. If anyone wants to go during the week.

Hit up Pages Lake for a few hours.  Saw fish moving but nothing biting.  There were a couple guys doing laps around the fountain in a john boat that didn't get anything and I didn't see anyone fishing from shore hook up.  I fished my way past the bridge to the inlet and pulled out a lazy pickerel which was made more interesting by catching him in the weeds on ultralight with 4lbs flouro. Fished my way back and drifted around fountain, tossed the jig at some fishy spots, nothing.  The sun never peaked through the clouds and it never got out of the 30s.  Tough cold front day.

New kayak has a GoPro mount so there's pictures.  Hero shot with the first fish of 2014.  At least I didn't start the year on a skunk.



Sounds like we'll be hauling out the gamelands tomorrow.

Better luck next time Luni! Were is Page lake?

Aberdeen right off 211/1/15/501.

Also saw the Saturday Upchurch post.  I'm definitely in.  Lowrance should be hooked up too.  Mind if I pick your brain and get an idea how to really use it?

Luni wrote:Aberdeen right off 211/1/15/501.

Also saw the Saturday Upchurch post.  I'm definitely in.  Lowrance should be hooked up too.  Mind if I pick your brain and get an idea how to really use it?

Not a problem! Looking forward to fishing with you on Saturday! See you then!

Got skunked hard.  Crappieassassin crushed it with 5 or 6 fish.  1 bluegill, 2 bass, and 2 or 3 crappie.  They wanted the white and chart discontinued swimbait jig thing.  Apparently the $5 box of jig stuff from BPS wasn't good enough for the selective tastes of gamelands crappie.

Thanks for posting  the pic I hate I couldn't get any pics of the other fish. First crappie was 11 3/4 2nd: was 7" 3rd: 12 1/4". First bass went 14" then 2nd bass was right at 16" mark then last was a very brightly colored Gill had the brightest red on him I've ever seen and missed just as many if not more

Lowrance showed up today along with a bunch of other stuff.  The other order from Hook 1 with the Ram mount hasn't shipped yet.  Gave them a call and they said it'll go out today or tomorrow and get here no later than Friday.  I'll get the transducer and wiring done probably Wednesday and leave the last couple holes until the mount shows up.  Using the Jackson transducer mount instructions.

Didn't think to order any ultralight tackle so when I run to gander for a battery I'll probably grab some feather tail jigs and possibly a tiny crankbait or two.  What do you guys use to rig up minnows?

Also right now weather on Saturday is low of 55 high of 64 with 30% chance of rain, 6 mph winds.  Either its going to be a nice cloudy day of drifting for crappie or the weather swing will put the fish in a funk again.

Sounds like you are getting set up Luni, I like Hook One too they are pretty great. Nice job Steve looks like you got it dialed in . Hope to have a good day Saturday, haven't been able to get out in a while. This will be good, same day as the Boat and Bass show in Raleigh , wont end up spending a bunch of money. Much rather be fishing than looking at fishing stuff.

Goin to pick up my minners Friday so I can be ready come 8 am 
Gonna be a good day and I'm hoping I mark some spot for later on

I am really looking forward to hunting some crappie on Saturday!

Did the final run to Gander.  All I needed was a 12v deer feeder battery but the fishing section was on the way so I ended up grabbing a couple plano boxes, a small assortment of ultralight tackle and a SR-7 olive craw shad rap.  I don't consider myself a crankbait fisherman but my tackle box begs to differ and in the summer I've usually got 2 tied on, a shallow squarebill and a mid depth.  I'll probably have the shad rap and a jig tied on in case anything tempting pops up on the fish finder even though I told myself I was only allowed to fish a jig for the rest of the winter.

Hook1 stuff should be here any day now and once I get everything wired up I'll do a shake down run at the gamelands Thursday or Friday just to make sure it works.

Luni" Hook1 stuff should be here any day now and once I get everything wired up I'll do a shake down run at the gamelands Thursday or Friday just to make sure it works."


What gamelands are y'all fishing? Is it the ponds just off Chicken Rd ?

http://goo.gl/maps/iBF1Z

Off June Johnson Rd just north of Raeford.  There's a bigger pond and 2 smaller ponds.  I figured out the shallows pretty well over the summer and was able to consistently find fish but I have NO idea what anything past the weed line looks like depth or structure wise aside from a few sunken trees that have taken lipless crankbaits and a whole bunch of matted grass stumping any attempt at carolina rigging.

Yeah that's the ones I thought yall were talking about, I fished there once last sumer with Crappie Assassin , Nice little pond meant to get back over there just never did. Have to go over there once I get the truck back.

Sounds like a plan Luni! So who all is going Saturday? So far it's hemi, luni, an me right is there anyone else going out?

crappieassassin wrote:Sounds like a plan Luni! So who all is going Saturday? So far it's hemi, luni, an me right is there anyone else going out?

So far it is going to be:

Hemi
Deepblu
Luni
Crappieassassin
Snagged

Art told me to day that he might be there also he will have to see how it is going that day.