I have been on Pool 13 a few times in the past week and the crappies have been biting well. The water is pretty clean, but still very swift. As a result, I’ve been using ¼ ounce jigs with 1.75” Midsouth tubes, and a minnow. The water temperature has been about 78 degrees. I’m finding fish in no less than six feet of water and up to twelve feet. I’m finding bigger fish in a bit faster current. The first picture is a 15” beast that fell to a white/blue tube and minnow.
All fish have come vertical jigging and I’m trying a bit of a different tactic this year. I have never used longer than a 7’ rod on the river while jigging, but this year I’m using 10’ Crappie Maxx rods. This is paying huge dividends for me, because I can get out away from the boat a bit more. Three feet doesn’t seem like much for a rod difference, but in shallow water, every inch makes a difference as to whether you spook fish or not.
These outings have been the first chance I’ve had to use my Lowrance HDS and DI/SI systems on the river. I have had great success using them elsewhere and have been more than pleased with how they are performing in the sloughs of the mighty river. I’m am covering so much more water using the side imaging and then nailing down structure with the DI. I am fishing structure in places I had no idea existed and based on the looks I’m receiving when another boat passes by, other don’t know the structure is there either.