Crappie of course

[donniep2217]

Hey guys. Any reports. I have kept a fish journal from the last 10 years and my entry from last year states that crappie was pretty good on 11-22. We caught 70 or so. Such a long way to go if they are not around. Love the couple of times a year I get to come up.  Any help is appreciated. DP

[derbingel]

This is the most recent fishing report written by Bob Rider at Lakeshore Bait & Tackle:


The Rider Report: Strong bass and crappie bite reported        
Written by Bob Rider    
Friday, 13 November 2009  


Consistently cool weather is making the lake temperature cooler and cooler. The live-bait bite for bass and catfish is quite good. Crappie are being caught only in modest numbers. The reports are much the same as last week, so here's what we've got ...

Bass anglers fishing live bait are having a ball. Most have reported that the bite is slow throughout most of the morning and early afternoon hours with the tail end of the afternoon accounting for most of the fish caught.

Jumbo minnows really made a splash this past week, with over 1,200 fish passing through our tank! The hatchery was caught a bit off guard by the surge in demand. We've upped our order yet again and will repeat the increases until we find that magic number. (Last year's high was close to 2,000 minnows/week at its fall peak.)

For the folks tempting bass with lures, we're still hearing about lipless cranks, top hook and keel weighted swim baits, jigs, and drop shotting. The artificials bite has been a bit less exhilarating that the live minnow bite. Deep water and rock piles continues as a pattern for fall bass angling.

Crappie anglers – now calling daily for updates – are finding some success on nice size, albeit not great numbers, of slabs. No Name Reef, Rocky Point, Jones Bay and Jago Bay have all been mentioned to us in the store this week. With Konocti Harbor Resort now closed we're recommending anglers try many of the other fantastic resorts around the lake. Your best bet for crappie will be by boat for now.

Catfishermen are enjoying plenty of action on jumbo minnows. Deep water rock piles are working well for cats also. Mackerel, shad and anchovies are also working well. Shore anglers are catching fish from deeper standing docks all around the south end of the lake.

[catfished]

Franz, where did you find that one? His website is still showing November 5th as the latest report. http://www.lakeshorebaitandtackle.com/fishing_report.htm

[derbingel]

I found it at:

www.lakeconews.com/content/view/11263/931/

Guess he wants to post it first where it has the most public exposure. 

[donniep2217]

Thanks BIG GUY!

[donniep2217]

Well, somebody had to be the guinea pig. Headed to the lake today in search of crappie and couldn't find squat! Kono, shag and kinocti were barren of people and crappie. Cannot believe after the last 5 years that these things are gone. Tons of bait. However, we did pull a 21 pound limit of bass. Had 11 overall. Smallest was 2 1/2 and the biggest 4 1/2. Salvaged the trip. Back to the delta for striper.

[derbingel]

Unfortunate about the crappie bite, but you definitely scored on some nice size bass.  

What form of bait did you use... natural or artificial?

I hear the top water striper action is looking good at the Delta according to Delta Bass Guide Rich Thiel.

Reports of 5-8 lb. fish up toward 12 lbs. being caught using Lunker Punkers, Spooks, and Fish Traps on flats near, or in the main channels from Sherman Lake to Mildred Island.

I'm looking forward to fishing the Delta soon! 

[donniep2217]

All plastics fish Franz. hula grubs and beavers. You are right on about the striper. I've been hitting it for the last month and have averaged 35 to 85 fish per trip. Topwater is getting better. Average fish is now about 4 pounds. My buddy had a 30+ on top last week.  Fun stuff.

[donniep2217]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. The silver sides were so thick in places. The bass were so fat that they looked deformed. I should have taken pics.