Crappies?

[walleye17]

I was fishing from a dock last night, and a few times I stood up from my chair, it startled some fish and there were several little synchronized splashes that were startled by movement. The bay that I was fishing was only 3 feet deep. Are those crappies or some other panfish that are close to the surface? Or are they minnows? The water was stained so I couldn't tell.

[bbfenatic]

Wonder how warm the water is in that bay, could be crappies, not on beds yet of course but they might be investigating the area....my guess is minnows though.

[monstermoose78]

There is a bay like that around here and the fish do the same thing if someone moves to fast or uses to big of a float. Crappies and gills along with other fish will come in to eat in the extreme shallows rate after ice out to feed.

[pushbutton]

Best guess would be schools of small 3 inchish sunfish.....

[erikwells]

Walleye17, as you said the water is stained so "who knows"? Thats part of what makes it fun for me. Thats also what makes bowfishing at night so much fun, getting to see some of the creatures that move in the dark.

[monstermoose78]

I could not see fish in the bay I was fishing today but it was full of crappies and gills. They may not have been big but it sure was fun to use a long rod.