Crappie size?

[jlm]

I have a question for you crappie experts. I have been doing a lot of crappie fishing this year and have noticed some trends on the lake that I fish. It seems that when I find fish, they all tend to be the same size in that area. For instance, I fish one weed line and catch crappies that are all about 10 inches. I move and find more fish and they all tend to be 12 inches. Do crappies Summer together in similar size groups? I thought I would pick your brain a little!

[united jigsticker]

Crappies are a size schooling species.

Sometimes in a given spot you will get nothing but the same year class of fish, no matter how you fish it, or what depth you're at.

Other times, the bigger fish will school at a different depth, or even a different level in the water column. This means you could catch 10" Crappies on the edge of a weedline down 6 feet, and go down 9 feet and get 12" Crappies in the same spot.

Other times, its just a matter of competition and time of day.

I have fished the same spots at 2 in the afternoon and got nothing but little Crappies, only to come back at 8pm and the slabs are biting. Same depth, same presentation, same location...Just different times.

Needs of Crappies in the varying size spectrum are not always the same. I know in the springtime right after ice out I will still find tiny Crappies in 30 feet of water when the bigger fish have moved the the first breaklines to stage.

There's no rule in stone to say where, why, and when the big Crappies will be schooled. But its what makes fishing fun.

Good fishing

UJ

[Scott Steil]

It is the Guardian Fish that keep crappies schooled this way They don't dare step out of line!!

Yes that is a Joke!!

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Mille Lacs Guide Service
www.millelacsguideservice.com

[united jigsticker]

The Guardian Fish? Oh my!

UJ

[CrappieJohn]

At different times in the year, craps can be notorious bug-life feeders. Larger fish will take over the water column depth closest to the hatching activity. In the instance of finding the larger fish shallower than the others it may well be that that is the depth preferred by a minnow species. I honestly believe that the largest fish will be where the opportunity lies and that the subordinate fish fall into place according to size. This can be especially true where the body of water has limited weed resources. You guys fishing weeded lakes... be thankful. The area where I fish hasn't much for weeds and we are stuck chasing a thermocline to find crappies and without cover they are about as fickle as they are thru the ice.

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Sure life happens- why wait....The Crapster....good fishing guys!

[fishnhooks]

Guys,
I have to thank you for that information myself. I thought that was very interesting. Especially the guardian fish theory!
Thanks,
"hooks"