Actually, it’s been out since March 15th. I was lucky enough to get on board my friend Dan’s boat on the 17th, St. Paddy’s Day, and wouldn’t you know there was a showing of the Green , as in Crappy that is.
I’ve been out twice this week and have managed to put two limits in the boat . This is the first bite of crappy , and it will only last a week or so longer, and after that there’ll be a slowdown on the bite as they move back out to the deeper weed edges. Then around Mid-April until Mid-May depending on water temps they’ll move back into the shallows to spawn.
That’s when things will get crazy with fish on every cast. If there’s not much time for you to fish for these tasty morsels , this is when you want to do it.
You’ll want to use a light action, fast tipped rod though any rod will really work. Spool up a spinning reel with 4-6 lb. test line , add a small bobber and a #8 hook with a minnow or a 1/32 to ΒΌ ounce tube or bucktailed jig. Experiment with different colors to find out what turns them on.
The best way to locate them on the lake is to look for the tightly grouped flotilla of boats. This is where the crappies will be. They have a loyal following of fishermen and with good reason- they are one of the best eating freshwater fish out there. They’re also a great way to introduce a new young angler to the sport.
So grab your pole and start the season early with crappy. If you have questions, send them through this blog. Also log onto Lakegeorge.com for the latest fishing report for Lake George.
Tight Lines
Captain Justin Mahoney
Highliner Charter Fishing
Highlinerfishing.com