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Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

by Pete Bauer on 10/25/2009

Kevin w/ a 13.5" Slab
When I think Pool-2 of the Mississippi River I think big walleyes and low boat traffic, not slab crappies. While our walleye bite this morning yielded good numbers of fish, size wasn’t quite what we were looking for. With that, our focus shifted from big walleyes to anything that would bite, which just happened to be some beautiful fall river crappies!


13.5" River Speck
These crappies averaged about 12.5 inches with the biggest few touching 14 inches. They were incredibility aggressive and had no problem clobbering walleye plastics. Location was key when finding these crappies as they grouped tightly and as usual, when one was caught there were more to come. Keeping a close eye on small eddy’s and current breaks along steep rock shelves made for perfect crappie habitat and an easy place for these fish to ambush minnows. Most of the fish we found were suspended 4-7ft down in 10-13fow, typically hitting the baits on the drop.


14" Mississippi Crappie
Not planning on a panfish trip we had very little terminal crappie tackle in the boat and had had to make-do with what was available. Kevin started by putting on a clinic, catching numerous specks pitching a 3/16oz jig with a full paddle tail. Fortunately for us, BFishN Tackle’s H20 precision jig in the 1/8oz size makes for an outstanding crappie jig when tipped with the bottom half a of paddle tail plastic. Pitching our makeshift crappie rigs tight to shore followed by a slow retrieve, checking in with the bottom every once in a while, did the deed hooking up with 20+ specks (all C&R).


13"
Overall our makeshift crappie trip turned out fantastic, especially considering we had no live and a box full of walleye gear. The best part of chasing these Pool-2 crappies are that we started and finished the day walleye fishing, giving us a quick break from pitching wing dams. Crappie fishing on Pool-2 is something I’ll definitely pursue in the future and makes for a nice change and quick break while out walleye fishing.

We’ll see ya out there

Pete

Location : Minnesota
Water Body : Mississippi River
Species : panfish
Water Temp : 47
Flow : 7400
Technique : pitching / flipping


Happy Birthday B Robinson

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829401 - 10/25/09 04:27 PM

Very nicely done! Making those changes and adapting sure put some nice fish in the boat.

--------------------
Brian
fishhunter44

Jeremy Liebig

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25

#829440 - 10/25/09 08:13 PM

Very nicely done! I've caught a few bigguns by accident out there but never have targeted them.....might have to give it a try. Thanks for the report. Very cool.

Mike W

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829464 - 10/25/09 09:43 PM

Now is that timing or what Pete. I did bring a bucket of minnows with today and spent a little time looking for crappies with no luck. It was hard to focus on paper mouths knowing there where walleyes to be had. Looks like I will need to give them another chance next trip out. Thanks for the report.

--------------------
Mike Westman - www.HomeTownplumbing.net
Your twin cities plumbing experts!

Stuart

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829481 - 10/26/09 06:32 AM

I feel with the low water summer we have had,its pushed them out into the channle here in P4 and when you find them,they are big.
Nice report Pete.

--------------------
About as useful as a back pocket on a shirt

Jason Halfen

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829491 - 10/26/09 07:49 AM

Suspended crappies in slack water areas?

Like these?

We started to spot these crappies about 8 feet down. They show up wonderfully in Side Imaging.

Nice 'pies Pete!

1256561285_S00062.PNG


--------------------
Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff

Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin:
JasonHalfenOutdoors.com

Pete Bauer

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829503 - 10/26/09 08:32 AM

Quote:

Now is that timing or what Pete. I did bring a bucket of minnows with today and spent a little time looking for crappies with no luck. It was hard to focus on paper mouths knowing there where walleyes to be had. Looks like I will need to give them another chance next trip out. Thanks for the report.



No doubt Mike, talk about timing!


Quote:

We started to spot these crappies about 8 feet down. They show up wonderfully in Side Imaging.



Someday Jason, I'm not sure how much fishing I'd get done if I had one of those in the boat

SAUGER

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829525 - 10/26/09 09:36 AM

Nice Job Pete!!

Joe Scegura

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829605 - 10/26/09 12:55 PM

Great fish Pete! It doesn't matter where or what you'll catch em, won't you? Good work

--------------------
Joe Scegura - Joe Scegura's Guide Service
"Walleye, Pike, Muskies & Panfish on Alexandria Area Lakes & Mille Lacs!
Ph# 320-260-9056

Jami Ritter

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829609 - 10/26/09 01:09 PM

You are on fire Pete!!! Great looking slabs!

Jami

Micah Witham

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829639 - 10/26/09 02:57 PM

Jason, or anyone who uses side imaging, I still cannot get the hang of exactly what I'm looking at with those units. is there a way to "explain it" so that it makes sense in one's head as what angle and view you are seeing when you are seeing that pic?

--------------------
IDO Field Staff
BfishN Tackle Staff Team
www.BfishNTackle.com
micah.witham@in-depthoutdoors.com



Everts Resort

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829865 - 10/27/09 10:07 AM

Dang,those are nice crappies!

--------------------
Dean Marshall - Everts Fishing Resort
Located Below Lock & Dam #3 near Red Wing, MN!



Click on the Everts Resort banner above to visit our website!

Bret Clark

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829897 - 10/27/09 11:12 AM

Awesome lookin' river specks Pete, Great job

--------------------
Bret Clark - IDO Ice Pro Staff
"Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway."

Ben Garver

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#829904 - 10/27/09 11:23 AM

Great fish Pete. Makes me want to hit a couple of my fall crappie spots.

--------------------
Ben Garver

Bass Pro Shops Pro Staff

Salt Valley Guide Service - Guiding available on all Nebraska waters.
Call 402-890-3057

I say we work 2 days and fish 5!!!


plungepool

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#830172 - 10/28/09 02:15 AM

Great report Pete

Ranger777

Re: Mississippi River Pool 2 Crappie Report, 10/25/09

#833108 - 11/08/09 08:24 PM

wow, i had no idea there were slap crappies like that in pool 2!! were you in the main river channel?
I've snagged a few before with crankbaits while bass fishing, but nothing ever that big.
nice work!

--------------------
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles"
Hooked on QDM!



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