trick for night-time crappie, input needed

[TroutFishingBear]

I had a good idea this morning about icing crappie at night. We have 1 lake where there are some really nice crappie from 8-12" but in fairly low numbers. They also bite very good at night. I think maybe getting a milkjug, and dropping those snap-green lights in there (you guys know what I'm talking about), tying the milk jug to a line, and dropping it down the hole to attract the crappie into the area. I really think this would help attract the crappie. By the way, I would put it probably at the level the crappie come in at, which at this lake is 18-22 ft over 30 ft of water.
Does anyone think this would work?

[iceintheveins]

I think the crappie in the lake we fish eat primarly daphnia or other zooplankton, and I think light attracts those species.

[Swift]

Don't see why it wouldn't.

[jackpine]

I like the idea and would like to try it. How about a 2lt "clear" pepsi/coke bottle? Milk jugs tend to be "off" colored.

Just my $.02

Fran 8)

[NorthwoodsIce]

I saw a guy on a TV show once using a green light contraption in very deep water for perch.  Worked like a charm, but then again it was TV and they could have been taping for hours and only showed when it was good biting.  But it did attract fish. 

[icejunky]

If it's legal in your area it worth a try

[mod_auger]

I have a neon green "fish attracting" light that I got from Cabelas a couple of years ago - it was $20 if I remember right. It runs off of a car or motorcycle battery. I bought it after a few people that I know swore by the green light attracting crappies. Well, I have been using it for a few years, and am still trying to figure out what works best when using the light. I have had success using the light intermittently, and I have had good luck by leaving it on. I have had luck with the light right underneath of the ice, and have also had success using it at the bottom of the water column. I have even had good luck not using the light at all. I would have to say it was a good investment, but a lot of experimenting is needed. But once you find the trick, the light is well worth the investment.

Good Luck,
Dutch

[TroutFishingBear]

thanks for the input. I think I may try a plastic soda bottle instead of the milk container. I think puting it on the top would actually probably be the best idea; maybe in the middle of the water column might send crappie off. Who knows. It will be fun to try out this winter though!

[walleyeslayer]

I had a good idea this morning about icing crappie at night. We have 1 lake where there are some really nice crappie from 8-12" but in fairly low numbers. They also bite very good at night. I think maybe getting a milkjug, and dropping those snap-green lights in there (you guys know what I'm talking about), tying the milk jug to a line, and dropping it down the hole to attract the crappie into the area. I really think this would help attract the crappie. By the way, I would put it probably at the level the crappie come in at, which at this lake is 18-22 ft over 30 ft of water.
Does anyone think this would work?

sounds good to me.  i would go with a clear bottle like the previous guy said.  i like using green glow in the dark teardops.  i would make another,  paint it black. and chip paint off all around in little specks.  maybe theyll think its a school of fish or something.  i dunno 

[Haywood]

Why do you need to put it in any jug?  Just tie a string to it and drop it in. 

[walleyeslayer]

Why do you need to put it in any jug?  Just tie a string to it and drop it in. 

LOL didnt even think about that...

[bigredonice]

My friend Tim ('fishingking') has one of those green lights, and after much experimenting, we've come to the realization that mobility is still the key, and finding the fish always seems to work better then trying to attract them in.  I've never seen the light bring fish in, and it has definitely has spooked fish at times.  For those evening and night crappies, we've had our best success drilling a bunch of holes in a suspected area before it started getting dark, then moving around those holes once the sun started fading...its hard work, but worth it.

[archbishop]

Why do you need to put it in any jug?  Just tie a string to it and drop it in. 

lol thats what i was thinking, whats the difference between "off" color and clear when its probably not even going to fit in the hole much less sink if it does, the fish wont see it?

i have had success with this technique, it seems to bring in the minnows followed by the crappie, only tried it twice but it worked decent both times.

p.s. i had the light right on the bottom

[TroutFishingBear]

lol ur right why even use a bottle? Like I said the idea just came to me one day....lol. I might just try it plain and on the bottom like archbishop said.

[archbishop]

hey TFB good to hear from you again, any ice in CO yet?

[TroutFishingBear]

yeah some people are already icefishing some of our high mountain lakes. I hear reports of 7" of ice in one place already. I'm still river fishing but if by  next week vega (the place where I got the trout in my avatar) is frozen I will be icefishing there. If not I will either be icefishing island lake or catching more river trout.

[fiesty]

Why do you need to put it in any jug?  Just tie a string to it and drop it in. 

do that on some of our ponds and the lightstick will get eaten....

[crappieman12887]

do that on some of our ponds and the lightstick will get eaten....

what you mean there fiesty,then we will have glow in the dark fish[bill]

[blufloyd]

I was in Denver area at Easter and was just wondering if there was any fish in Colorado yet.
Only saw on fish a greenie the whole time there and it was a city park fish.
No plans to ever return no upndown earpopping genes in my make up and if the fish are
that scarce....

well tried the light stick thing tuesday? night.  not good.  but area s well lit always....

[ICE LUNATIC]

I know the purple color seems to attract those smaller bait fish!

[PondPro]

i bought a light thing that glows green and it attracks the crappie real good at night.

[AugustWest]

i bought a light thing that glows green and it attracks the crappie real good at night.

Are you from New Berlin, NY?
Hunt's Pond seems to get the cr@p beat out of it, and if it doesn't it will

[tomatosoup]

well i live on black lake ny and i tried it one night and on my second drop with a pink demon lit up caught a 11 inch slob and never got another hit, but i have heard that they do bite at night and and old fisherman told a buddy of mine that drill a hole but not all the way through and put a big candle in the hole and put a bucket over it and it alluminates the ice, then fish around it . me i would rather use a lantern but i am gonna try it and will let you know how it turns out

[bonkfan14]

well i live on black lake ny and i tried it one night and on my second drop with a pink demon lit up caught a 11 inch slob and never got another hit, but i have heard that they do bite at night and and old fisherman told a buddy of mine that drill a hole but not all the way through and put a big candle in the hole and put a bucket over it and it alluminates the ice, then fish around it . me i would rather use a lantern but i am gonna try it and will let you know how it turns out

hey john did you try it yet? ..zeke

[dwayne]

well i live on black lake ny and i tried it one night and on my second drop with a pink demon lit up caught a 11 inch slob and never got another hit, but i have heard that they do bite at night and and old fisherman told a buddy of mine that drill a hole but not all the way through and put a big candle in the hole and put a bucket over it and it alluminates the ice, then fish around it . me i would rather use a lantern but i am gonna try it and will let you know how it turns out

I have done that in Mile Arm bay several times.  It seemed to work ok.  The few times we did it we ended up having good nights.  I am actually going to try that here in North Eastern NY soon.  I think I have a "candidate lake "to try it on.

[nepa old man]

We just use our lanterns, fish with fatheads & have good success at night. Same routine for the the past 20 yrs & it still produces good.

[NickP]

Technically thats impossible  8)

Candle needs oxygen to burn! lol and wouldnt the wax build up and let less light through?

[reelbigfish]

I use coleman lanterns too.  They attract in the baitfish and the specks.  When I'm
going out shallow water perch fishing and plan on sitting tight for several hours I
have a quart mason jar with 1/4" holes in the top that I put a scoop of minnies in
and let down a hole to keep them in the area longer.  I have an eyebolt in the center of the lid & a chunk of string tied to a foot long stick.  This post gave me an idea I'll
have to try.  I'm gonna drop a couple of light sticks in with the minnows and let her down a crappie hole at night.  It just might work.




Ted

[crappieslayer22]

i got a under water light that works well and its guts a regular white light

[dwayne]

Technically thats impossible  8)

Candle needs oxygen to burn! lol and wouldnt the wax build up and let less light through?

We didn't cover our holes with anything.  Figure the candle would melt the bottom of a plastic bucket.