Strange crappie behavior, maybe?

[MCI]

I was fishing today in 26' of water from 4pm until 6pm using a red hook with a split shot about 8" above they hook that had a crappie minnow on it. I had a camera down and from 4 until 4:40 I had nothing but perch and they were only about 6" off the sand bottom. At 4:40 I started to have crappie come in and they to were only 6" off the bottom also. I lowered my minnows down to about a foot off the bottom and the crappie didn't even come close to my bait.

I have never caught crappie that close to the bottom, anyone else?

It almost appeared as if the minnows were too active for the fish. what I mean by that is the minnows swimming frantically seemed to turn off the crappies? Has anyone else experienced that behavior in crappie before?

Any suggestions on what to do when the fish act like this to trigger them to bite? I did not have any Wax worms or larva with.

I should also say that I did raise my bait up about 3' from the bottom along with my camera, no crappies came through at that height, they all seemed to be hugging the bottom.

[th64]

Almost anything is possible with those buggers, good to keep your options open. last time out I caught about 15 on plastics had another line out in the same depth zone with a lively unweighted minnow, they would not touch the minnow. Plenty of other trips they only wanted the minnow. They are just as particular as a walleye or bass.

Keeps it fun, right?

[leech~~]

I was fishing today in 26' of water from 4pm until 6pm using a red hook with a split shot about 8" above they hook that had a crappie minnow on it. I had a camera down and from 4 until 4:40 I had nothing but perch and they were only about 6" off the sand bottom. At 4:40 I started to have crappie come in and they to were only 6" off the bottom also. I lowered my minnows down to about a foot off the bottom and the crappie didn't even come close to my bait.

I have never caught crappie that close to the bottom, anyone else?

It almost appeared as if the minnows were too active for the fish. what I mean by that is the minnows swimming frantically seemed to turn off the crappies? Has anyone else experienced that behavior in crappie before?

Any suggestions on what to do when the fish act like this to trigger them to bite? I did not have any Wax worms or larva with.

I should also say that I did raise my bait up about 3' from the bottom along with my camera, no crappies came through at that height, they all seemed to be hugging the bottom.

PM me the lake and maybe I can meet you there tomorrow and see what kind of strange activity is going on there?

[gunner55]

I would try a jig to keep the minnow anchored a little more

[MCI]

Lake was North of Brianerd, just a one day trip.

thanks for the offer.

[bbfenatic]

I would set the minnow about 2-4' up above the depth you are seeing them or jig with a waxie up above them to see if a more aggressive/hungry crappie might break out of the pack. Also I have experienced situations where even the bigger crappies want a very small jig like a ratso versus the minnow I have down.

[bobbymalone]

I think crappies hugging the bottom is pretty normal for crappies that aren't active. I doubt you'll find a magic lure or bait that will turn them on. You can probably find something that might entice a couple of them though.

[tunrevir]

I would try working a small jigging spoon with a minnow head. Drop the spoon to a foot above and wiggle it and jiggle it and try slowly lifting it 1-2 feet. If you see crappies break away from the group to go after your spoon continue to lift as they chase it up, pause and usually they will hit it. Kind of like a baitfish fleeing. I have had decent luck triggering reluctant biters this way.

Tunrevir~

[fish_eat_sleep]

I'd move and not bother with fish that aren't hungry. i mean you can throw money and time at anything but i would bet they were biting somewhere else on that same lake at the same time.

[th64]

Some they do and some they don"t

With some you just can't tell

Some they will and some they won't

With some its just as well.

(Supertramp lyric)

[monstermoose78]

I would try a Maki Mino from Clam. I had people all around me today with minnows and they were not catching many at all. I was running from hole to hole with my plastic and pulling in crappies and some gills. I told them what I was using and I do not think they believed me.