Crappie at night

[Uppervalley Kid]

Long story short, my time is more limited than ever this year. Cashed out alot of my "earned time" during hunting season, leaving the wife at home with an infant and a toddler most weekends. Between family obligations and work, Im thinking about hitting up my crappie spots at night when the kiddos are asleep. Do tactics change from early morning/evening fishing? Anything I should do differently?

[AQUAASSASSIN]

I find them even shallower, 6 ft or less in many cases. Glow jigs are key

[800stealth]

It's been my experience that dark is dark, 600 in the evening or 100 in the morning patterns hold with exception of well lit full or close to full moons. Sometimes the strong moon can move them more to a day pattern with clear ice and no snow cover...

[800stealth]

I find them even shallower, 6 ft or less in many cases. Glow jigs are key

I'll 2nd that... Glow jigs make a big difference. I usually start with a PK predator in red dot glow, if they don't dig that I move to a tungsten so I can bait it.

[AQUAASSASSIN]

I'll 2nd that... Glow jigs make a big difference. I usually start with a PK predator in red dot glow, if they don't dig that I move to a tungsten so I can bait it.

I pitch the identical Sale. It’s usually a bread winner

[Stump17]

Glow jigs and a green fish light have been killer for me at night.

[THEGOAT]

I find them even shallower, 6 ft or less in many cases. Glow jigs are key

Me too at times - do you think the majority of them move shallow at night say from a deeper near by basin? 

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Me too at times - do you think the majority of them move shallow at night say from a deeper near by basin?

I do. All my home waters that’s exactly what they do

[fishermantim]

You could use submersible lights if you want.

I have a nice LED set up with 50' of cable that lights up a decent area around the hole.

During my early attempts I would set up a bunch of those 4" LED lights (the ones you can get in packs of 5-10)
I was standing them on end, facing down thru the semi-clear ice and fishing around the spread.

I was able to get a number of sunfish.

And before anyone chimes in about the legality of using lights to fish at night, I had checked a few years back and printed the email reply from the NH fish & game dept. stating that they are OK to use. (they are illegal if you are using them to "spot" fish to spear/shoot with an arrow.)

SO....that's an added option.

[AQUAASSASSIN]

I do remember that confirmation

[Uppervalley Kid]

Thank you for the tips these are very helpful. I am going to fish some 4-8 ft drop offs that will hopefully yield some results.

[PoolGuy]

I'll 2nd that... Glow jigs make a big difference. I usually start with a PK predator in red dot glow, if they don't dig that I move to a tungsten so I can bait it.

X3 on the PK Predator an switch to tungsten…

[lowaccord66]

I do. All my home waters that’s exactly what they do

Yes this but also deep.  If I want a big stack of night time meats its green light on the drop of the flat in 12-15fow.  Maybe its just me but I cant get a pile of them fired up shallow like I can a bit deeper.  That said theres nights where they are absent from that deep water entirely.

[THEGOAT]

I do. All my home waters that’s exactly what they do

Same here - i find they take a bit to feed again too after the late afternoon - sunset feeding window. My favorite fish to chase under the ice!

[THE JIGGER]

Glo jig is key. I tip it with a waxie or piece of worm. I just bring my Colman lantern. I've been getting them around 13 to 15ft. If you don't have a glo jig use the rubber glo waxies. They work fine.
Check my last two posts

[SALMONEMIA]

I just bought a green light but the clips are beefy like big alligator clips.  How do you attach to the spade terminal on a fish finder battery? Any advice or will they just clip on? Not much room to grab from what I see but havent tried it  yet.

[DConICE]

I have a battery tester and charger for work that has larger clips and they will grab the spade (F1 or F2) terminals on a 6V or 12V finder type battery, but it doesn't take much to knock them off.  I would consider changing the clips to "spade" connectors or it you plan on using the light with other batteries I would make some kind of a pigtails with a spade connector to a small board with a couple of bolts (+ and -) that you could then attach the clips too.

Just a thought

[SALMONEMIA]

I have a battery tester and charger for work that has larger clips and they will grab the spade (F1 or F2) terminals on a 6V or 12V finder type battery, but it doesn't take much to knock them off.  I would consider changing the clips to "spade" connectors or it you plan on using the light with other batteries I would make some kind of a pigtails with a spade connector to a small board with a couple of bolts (+ and -) that you could then attach the clips too.

Just a thought

Thanks I just bought some spade terminals and some heat shrink tubing.  I'll post pics when it's done.  I already have a battery so I'll modify for my needs.

[raindaddy35]

If it is legal, I would get yourself a crappie light.  I bought one years ago.  Basically, it is the old style round headlight built into a formed piece of Styrofoam.  It has cables coming out of it and a clip on each wire.  You just have to attach the clips to a standard flasher battery.  I would drill two holes side by side, for my rods.  Then I would drill a third hole back and in-between the two holes for my graph.  And a separate hole behind the graph hole for the crappie light.  Just sit the light down onto the hole and turn it on.  The light attracts the plankton, which attracts minnow and then the specks!  I use mine in water up to 30 foot.  The beam of light should go down about 10 foot or more!  Good luck.

Snitch what brand you running?

[DrummerManDrew]

And before anyone chimes in about the legality of using lights to fish at night, I had checked a few years back and printed the email reply from the NH fish & game dept. stating that they are OK to use. (they are illegal if you are using them to "spot" fish to spear/shoot with an arrow.)

This is a fact and a lot of people get confused when they consider this. The term jacklighting got everyone mixed up.  From the just of what I understood the Narrative to be, a light shining down through the ice is ok, but a light that’s actually lowered down below the ice is where things get confusing.

[Scranton Joe]

If you can find brush piles and structure, you can leave the lights at home.

[THE JIGGER]

I use glo jigs at night. Is that considered using a light below the water surface?

[lowaccord66]

I just bought a green light but the clips are beefy like big alligator clips.  How do you attach to the spade terminal on a fish finder battery? Any advice or will they just clip on? Not much room to grab from what I see but havent tried it  yet.

Seperate battery for this guy.  Have to use clips cause I run shanty lights and green lights off the same battery.

[river_scum]

I just bought a green light but the clips are beefy like big alligator clips.  How do you attach to the spade terminal on a fish finder battery? Any advice or will they just clip on? Not much room to grab from what I see but havent tried it  yet.

i used little chunks of copper wire. smash the ends and bend in L shape.  i then just stuck them in under plastic on connectors.  of course, you could just get the double end connectors and do it rt. 

[swnoel]

This is a fact and a lot of people get confused when they consider this. The term jacklighting got everyone mixed up.  From the just of what I understood the Narrative to be, a light shining down through the ice is ok, but a light that’s actually lowered down below the ice is where things get confusing.

The law seems pretty specific to me. The light would have to be used for killing or stunning fish. The green light in the water doesn't kill or stun fish.


• Except as otherwise specifically permitted, it is
unlawful to use or have in possession poisons,
explosives, net, set line, fishing otter, trawl,
grapple, spear, jack, jack light, or electrical or
other device for killing or stunning fish.

[wally]

Gonna give it a whirl tonight... Any one else headed out..

[wally]

Can you provide a link to where I can read the regulation? I can't seem to find it.. Thanks..

The law seems pretty specific to me. The light would have to be used for killing or stunning fish. The green light in the water doesn't kill or stun fish.


• Except as otherwise specifically permitted, it is
unlawful to use or have in possession poisons,
explosives, net, set line, fishing otter, trawl,
grapple, spear, jack, jack light, or electrical or
other device for killing or stunning fish.