Author Topic: Any Crappie fanatics out there (Read 6720 times)

whiptail · « **on:** Jan 28, 2016, 08:53 PM »

Hay looking for some Crappie fanatics here in Montana.

mtoutdoorsman · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 28, 2016, 09:37 PM »

I'm a fish fanatic, and Crappies are a fish so do I count?
I like Crappies but not much for them around Helena

oldschoolben · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 28, 2016, 09:43 PM »

Nice crappie ,I fished for crappie when I was in Idaho ,I have not found any I'm Montana tho

TCubed · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 28, 2016, 10:05 PM »

I would love to figure them out!

Nick

RicA · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 28, 2016, 10:27 PM »

Lived and fished in the Flathead almost all of my life (60+ yrs) and have never caught one. It is a goal however.

Rat Fink · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 29, 2016, 09:14 AM »

I used to fish crappies often when growing up in Michigan. I miss them and bluegills alot. Not much for panfish around Helena. I have been daydreaming of getting on a good twilight crappie bite lately. Anyone care to share some suggestions on lakes to try anywhere in MT? PM would be best.

whiptail · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 29, 2016, 09:19 AM »

Well there here in Montana Flathead area Fresno lake Fort Peck Bean and Brod View Pond and Tongue river I heard and those are just a few.

tiptoe · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 29, 2016, 09:37 AM »

Not a fanatic but, I am familiar with that submerged log in pic #1.

Mtwolfer · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 29, 2016, 09:57 AM »

I am but since moving to Montana I've learned to live without. I still make a trip to Tennessee or the Ozarks for some Crappie!

Born Late · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 29, 2016, 11:38 AM »

Grew up fishing them in northern WI and MN. Fun thru the ice but even more fun on a fly rod! Hoping to combine a little TRR post-ice crappie time with a turkey trip this spring.

MT Hank · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 29, 2016, 11:48 AM »

Going to get after them this fall after ice out. Always wanted to but never figured them out. Now is the time!
Any help would be appreciated!

MT Hank

whiptail · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 29, 2016, 04:46 PM »

MT Hank just call Pete at Pete's Tackle in Kalispell he has the stuff you need or go talk to Chancy at Snappy's.

rkymtnfisher · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 29, 2016, 09:24 PM »

The crappie fishing in TRR is fantastic. spotty through the iced. but in May and June ......... how many coolers full do you want..... and nice sized. We camped down there last summer and I was catching them along the shore on a fly rod almost every cast. Then we took the boat out and had doubles on almost constantly. Keep in touch with the rangers at the park and they will let you know when they really turn on in the spring. One of my favorite Montana trips. Great place to camp.

MT Hank · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 30, 2016, 08:56 AM »

Thanks Pete... I will be talking to you and Chancy after I get over my back injury that may keep me off the ice for the rest of the winter.

Born Late · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 30, 2016, 12:30 PM »

Quote from: rkymtnfisher on Jan 29, 2016, 09:24 PM

The crappie fishing in TRR is fantastic. spotty through the iced. but in May and June ......... how many coolers full do you want..... and nice sized. We camped down there last summer and I was catching them along the shore on a fly rod almost every cast. Then we took the boat out and had doubles on almost constantly. Keep in touch with the rangers at the park and they will let you know when they really turn on in the spring. One of my favorite Montana trips. Great place to camp.

Thanks for the info, RMF. More interested in catching than keeping when they're in spawning mode but I enjoy the heck out of flyrodding for 'em when they're in shallow.

wyogator · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 30, 2016, 04:07 PM »

I used to catch a lot of them in Florida. It was pretty easy, using a flyrod with mono, dangling a jig in the lilly pads. Montana is a totally different ballgame. They suspend in deep water, and locating them in any medium to large lake can be a challenge, especially through the ice.

rkymtnfisher · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 30, 2016, 05:36 PM »

We fished them with live minnows in TRR in July and August. Found most between 20 and 40 feet down. Great fishery, lots of action with perch and eyes as a bonus. And if you like smallmouth action, this lake is a destination

slickice · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 30, 2016, 05:57 PM »

Coming from Northern Wisconsin has spoiled my crappie ambitions in MT. Now that I'm an official geezer, I'd certainly love to rekindle my early years by getting into a pile of these wonderful table-fare. My dad & I targeted and knocked the heck out of them every spring. I've honestly caught several 16" crappies' from the Wolf River and certainly took them for granted. I keep hearing about TRR as a good crappie resource but I haven't fished it because of the distance involved. That being said, when is the peak for the spring crappie run @ TRR? I'm definitely considering a run at it.

Shakedown St. · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 30, 2016, 07:13 PM »

TRR is our MT Crappie lake too, as I just don't have the experience on Peck to chase them there. I don't know about the "peak" of the spawn, but we make our annual trip the day after Memorial Day and stay the week. The Crappie are usually pretty thick, and can be caught pretty much anywhere near the campgrounds. My kids even love catching them right off the back of the boat while beached! That's another bonus.....the water is high and your boat is literally right behind your RV. We use minnows with bobbers and jig/minnow patterns, but I catch better quality fish slow trolling small crankbaits. Don't insist your bait is too big either....they will eat a big bait! Have not had good luck with Eyes that early, but the Smallies are easy to catch.

slickice · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 30, 2016, 07:17 PM »

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll give it a try.

MT Hank · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 31, 2016, 01:43 PM »

Ok... I'll be the uninformed one. What is and where is "TTR". $:-\$
I know nothing about the "East Side" so I am assuming it is a lake on the east side?

Thanks!!

slickice · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 31, 2016, 02:36 PM »

Tongue River Reservoir.

MT Hank · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 31, 2016, 03:15 PM »

Quote from: MT Hank on Jan 31, 2016, 01:43 PM

Ok... I'll be the uninformed one. What is and where is "TTR". $:-\$
I know nothing about the "East Side" so I am assuming it is a lake on the east side?

Thanks!!

Appreciate that... Might start looking into fishing the east side with retirement coming up.

whiptail · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 01, 2016, 07:14 AM »

Montana just got a flag for Crappie .com it took me a while but we got one now we need Crappie Fanatics to go join and start posting. Its funny they thought we only fish for Trout out here in Montana.

gadgetman · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 01, 2016, 07:20 AM »

Quote from: whiptail on Jan 29, 2016, 09:19 AM

Well there here in Montana Flathead area Fresno lake Fort Peck Bean and Brod View Pond and Tongue river I heard and those are just a few.

Hi Whiptail, I was just curious...Is the Bean you mentioned Bean lake east of Rogers Pass ? Where is Broadview Pond ?

MTredkennels97 · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 12, 2016, 03:50 PM »

Pulled a limit out of Peck last weekend in about an hour. Nothing big, all about 12" but it sure was fun and they are tasty little buggers. Wish there were more places to fish them without having to drive 3+ hours.

fishin7 · « **Reply #26 on:** Feb 13, 2016, 12:20 AM »

I wouldn't say I'm a Crappie fanatic, but we do catch quite a few while chasing walleye and TRR (Tongue River Reservoir) is definitely a go to for Crappie around here, any time of the year!

Not to mention you might run into a monster smallie as well!

pike70 · « **Reply #27 on:** Feb 16, 2016, 09:19 AM »

I've heard smiley slough by plains has them

Chris338378 · « **Reply #28 on:** Feb 16, 2016, 09:22 AM »

Quote from: whiptail on Jan 28, 2016, 08:53 PM

Hay looking for some Crappie fanatics here in Montana.
(Image removed from quote.)
(Image removed from quote.)

In you're ice fishing picture you could pass for Larry the Cable Guy.

whiptail · « **Reply #29 on:** Feb 17, 2016, 09:54 AM »

Hay winter is a;most over and we need a place to chat and post our Crappie photos. I have just the place crappie.com Montana. Lets get our small crappie community to grow and build so friendships and meet back at Ice Shanty for our winter adventures. My favorite time to fish crappie is approaching fast, can't wait.

News:

Author Topic: Any Crappie fanatics out there (Read 6720 times)

oldschoolben