Mississippi Pool 8 Crappies Easter Break

With back water surface temps at 45 degrees and rising, along with stable weather for the last couple days, the crappies were found on cue using one of there first staging areas in the deep before there pre spawn move into shallower waters when surface temps will be 50-55 degrees.
A scouting trip Thursday the 9th was made to search out some of the areas were the cruising specks were anticipated to be holding in hopes to have Mike and his son Nathan, who was coming up to visit for Easter, on fish come Saturday.
Setting up in 25-30 foot of water and presenting baits at 8-12 feet deep is what the doctor ordered for catching paper mouths.

Staying vertical with a gold/glow 1/8 oz Slender Spoon and a #2 Fire Tiger Demon jigging Spoon (both from Custom Jig and Spins) tipped with a minnow head had crappies opening up there pie holes to take the offering boat side. This is a close to ice fishing as a guy can get this time of year A gold #8 hook 8-10foot under a slip bobber with a small minnow was irresistible for these hungry meat eaters also.
Just a quick twitch with the spoons and a pause is all it took to create a thud on the rod tip. By giving the slip bobber rig a short pull causing the minnow to rise and fall under the bobber, enticed the suspended fish into slowly taking the presentation. Once the bobber slowly started its descent, it was necessary to give the fish at least a 5 count before setting the hook, too quick with the hook set would just feed the nibbling finned critters.

Pictured here is a set up that I hope might help some people out that are not real familiar with slip bobber fishing. This rigging will keep you from chasing bobbers after snagging up and breaking off. This slip bobber set up can be used with heavier tackle for eyes as well.
After slipping the bobber stop, bead and bobber onto a main line of 4lb a barrel swivel is tied to the end of the line. A 2-3foot 2lb leader is then tied on for the business end of the rig. By doing this when the bait gets snagged up the lighter line used for your leader will break and the swivel will retrieve your bobber….at least 98 percent of the time. No more chasing floating bobbers around after breaking off
Another little trick that will put more fish on the end of your line is using the correct amount of weight. A bobber riding high in the water will create more resistance as the intended quarry takes your offering, at times the resistance will have these fish drop the baits early. By using the proper amount of weight your bobber should be riding low and pulled under without being detected.

Nothing changed and the bite was still good come Saturday morning. We started off set up on a snag in 25fow and the crappies were cooperative just as they were on Thursday however, once the morning wore on and the sun started to peak the bite slowed down. Pulling up the anchor and using the trolling motor for controlled drifts over the abyss had us bumping into cruising schools in no where land putting us back in the game for some more action before calling it a day It was a hoot watching father and son getting competitive and having fun I would think Nathan had a good time as well fishing between the two grumpy old men
Hope everyone is having or had a great Easter…….remember the reason for the season waytogo:

Good luck fishing people