(Un)official Hoosiers Thread

[Cole Richards]

3 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

I don't know about northern Indiana, but in central IN where I live the crappie are just starting to spawn with most of them still under docks in three to six feet of water feeding heavily.  Depending on how far you are willing to drive, cateract lake is a great crappie lake, when we fished there last week we caught 213 crappie in about eight hours.  if you do go there, try in stump alley. If you don't know where that is and you are planning on going there, shoot me a pm.

What were you catching them on 

[tstraub]

5 hours ago, Cole Richards said:

Taking the father in law out for crappie this weekend , anybody in northern Indiana been on them lately.  I am guessing they are still shallow in late spawn .  Any info would be great . 

We were catching crappies this past weekend near Rochester Indiana.  The boat was in about 15 ft of water and we were casting to the edge of lily pads the fish were about 4 ft deep.  They were biting live crickets under a slip float and Arkie sexee shad minnow lures in Tennessee shad color.  We would cast to the edge of the lilys wait a few seconds for it to sink and reel it in slowly.  About 1/2 of the fish we cleaned were full of eggs so they haven't spawned yet.  

Tyler 

[IndianaFinesse]

4 hours ago, Cole Richards said:

What were you catching them on 

We were catching most of them using a double rig with a minnow on top and a jig on the bottom underneath a small slip float.  now that they are starting to spawn you might be able to get away with a using a small tube or curly tail grub and throwing them up to the bank and slowly reeling them back.  I would still highly suggest getting at least twelve dozen minnows as back up though, and buy them from a bait shop called buck and dumb bass as what they consider dozen is close to two actual dozen. 

[IndianaFinesse]

Fished for an hour tonight, but the bass moved out a little deeper into four to eight feet of water holding tight to cover because of the cold front.  Three of the larger  bass were caught where i hooked the 24.5 inch bass last month.  Water clarity is down to a foot so I used a coppertruse trd and a bulky 1/4 ounce black and blue jig with a black zoom super chunk trailer that I borrowed from a friend since I'm out of jigs.  Eight total with most being only eight to twelve inches long and the largest was only fourteen and a half inches.  About half of them ate a jig and and the other on the Ned rig.

[Alan Reed]

Went to a lake I just haven't been able to figure out at all last night. 

My step son got a bass within 5 minutes on a top water frog coming across some underwater vegetation in an area the wind was blowing into. Had a couple more bites but never got hooked up.

My wife got one crappie at the inlet to that same area. 

I was blanked, there was no interest in anything I had on the end of my line.

[IndianaFinesse]

1 hour ago, Alan Reed said:

Went to a lake I just haven't been able to figure out at all last night. 

My step son got a bass within 5 minutes on a top water frog coming across some underwater vegetation in an area the wind was blowing into. Had a couple more bites but never got hooked up.

My wife got one crappie at the inlet to that same area. 

I was blanked, there was no interest in anything I had on the end of my line.

Have you tried the Ned rig?  If I were you I would try that, and if they don't eat the Ned rig, find a new place to fish.

[IndianaFinesse]

Fished this afternoon for three hours.  The bass are already back up on the beds and spawning, so I sight fished in coves in typical spawning areas.  I caught thirty one bass with the largest weighing 3.6 pounds and a bonus monster crappie.  Most bass ate a new money colored trd on a mushroom head jig fished in whatever way the targeted bass wanted.

Then I went out after dinner with my little brother and white bass fished for two hours or so.  We caught most of the twenty eight fish on a 1/8 ounce roostertail fished near the surface over four to ten feet of water on a drop off into fourteen feet of water.

[IndianaFinesse]

I also caught my first ever smallmouth at this lake since moving here last fall, and it was a solid two pounder to!  It's been so long since catching a smallie I had forgotten how much harder they fight compared to largemouth and how much more acrobatic.  I caught it on a trd fished with a drag and deadstick retrieve in the bay by the marina.

[BassassinX]

On Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 9:30 PM, neocrunch said:

 

Ok,   everyone is talkin about this ned rig,  Where can I find this setup to try?

 

 

 

Tight lines

[IndianaFinesse]

25 minutes ago, BassassinX said:

Ok,   everyone is talkin about this ned rig,  Where can I find this setup to try?

 

 

 

Tight lines

You can order the supplies off tw or Amazon.  Get a couple packs of finesse shroomz heads in 1/16 ounce as you will break of quite a bit.  Pair that up with either a trd or half of a zinkerz with the salt stretched and soaked out.  I'm not to picky about colors, green pumpkin is almost the only color I use with the exception of coppertruse in muddy water or occasionally new money on a sunny day, but I mostly stick with green pumpkin.  I use both the zinkerz and the trd, he zinkerz is softer and has more action, but the trd is slightly more durable and the colors last better so that's what I choose when I want something with a little sparkle or a brighter color like coppertruse.

Use it on a medium-lite rod spooled with six to ten pound braid with or without a six to eight pound floro leader.  And check out the infisherman article on the six Midwest finesse retrieves, I mostly use the drag and short deadstick retrieve, but most others prefer the swim glide and shake retrieve.  The Ned rig isn't for heavy cover, it was created for catching the less pressured bass on nothing looking shorelines.

Most people will tell you that it only catches dinks, but it doesn't just catch the little guys.  It catches nearly any bass it goes near, including and 8.2 pound 24.5 inch beast I caught last month.  And even though it wouldn't be my lure of choice for big bass, it does catch them and it is the best lure for catching a quick limit before going for a kicker.

Hope this helps, don't hesitate to ask you have any more questions.

[Alan Reed]

On April 29, 2016 at 9:45 AM, IndianaFinesse said:

Have you tried the Ned rig?  If I were you I would try that, and if they don't eat the Ned rig, find a new place to fish.

No I haven't tried the Ned rig. I saw your post and ordered them off Amazon this morning. I'll give it a try once those get in.

[OddChase]

10 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

You can order the supplies off tw or Amazon.  Get a couple packs of finesse shroomz heads in 1/16 ounce as you will break of quite a bit.  Pair that up with either a trd or half of a zinkerz with the salt stretched and soaked out.  I'm not to picky about colors, green pumpkin is almost the only color I use with the exception of coppertruse in muddy water or occasionally new money on a sunny day, but I mostly stick with green pumpkin.  I use both the zinkerz and the trd, he zinkerz is softer and has more action, but the trd is slightly more durable and the colors last better so that's what I choose when I want something with a little sparkle or a brighter color like coppertruse.

Use it on a medium-lite rod spooled with six to ten pound braid with or without a six to eight pound floro leader.  And check out the infisherman article on the six Midwest finesse retrieves, I mostly use the drag and short deadstick retrieve, but most others prefer the swim glide and shake retrieve.  The Ned rig isn't for heavy cover, it was created for catching the less pressured bass on nothing looking shorelines.

Most people will tell you that it only catches dinks, but it doesn't just catch the little guys.  It catches nearly any bass it goes near, including and 8.2 pound 24.5 inch beast I caught last month.  And even though it wouldn't be my lure of choice for big bass, it does catch them and it is the best lure for catching a quick limit before going for a kicker.

Hope this helps, don't hesitate to ask you have any more questions.

Ordering my ned rig stuff now actually haha. Would you recommend buying the zinkerz and cutting them in half in order to be money efficient? 

[neocrunch]

4 minutes ago, OddChase said:

Ordering my ned rig stuff now actually haha. Would you recommend buying the zinkerz and cutting them in half in order to be money efficient? 

You know you can get the TRD and the jigs at JBC Outfitters right here in Muncie. The owner is a nice guy, too.

[OddChase]

Just now, neocrunch said:

You know you can get the TRD and the jigs at JBC Outfitters right here in Muncie. The owner is a nice guy, too.

Oh that's awesome! Thanks. I always just go to Dick's or TW. I'll order the jig heads off TW since I have a gift certificate but I'll give the guy a visit for the plastics. Appreciate it. 

[IndianaFinesse]

1 hour ago, OddChase said:

Ordering my ned rig stuff now actually haha. Would you recommend buying the zinkerz and cutting them in half in order to be money efficient? 

Either way.  Although half of a zinkerz is technically cheaper, the trd lasts longer so it is actually a little more cost efficient.  I find that a Zinkerz works better for the swim glide and shake retrieve though.

[Amoore9900]

We went out today wanted to run the motor we just got back we got 9 about 1/2 on kvd 2.5 and 1/2 on a range crawl...all the fish were shallow most off rocks...it was raining and cold but we did ok a lot of fish 3-5 pounds 

[neocrunch]

I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow [30% chance]. I've got the kayak loaded and ready to go to Summit Lake in the morning. My wife & son are coming down later in the day to bring me lunch. Anyone else going to be out on the water tomorrow? 

[IndianaFinesse]

Crappie fished in the rain this afternoon for five hours with my dad.  With the mild cold front messing them up we only caught fourteen, but they were solid 11-14 inches.  They are still hanging around docks in two to six feet of water, but I got the feeling that the spawn is starting to tail off.  Is any other crappie fisherman noticing this, or does the spawn usually last longer than a week and a half or so?  I'm still new to crappie fishing, only done it for a few years and only once every week or two.  We tried small curly tail grubs, but only caught two so we switched to a double minnow rig two feet under a small float and caught the rest of the fish on that.

 I never have been able to do very well on crappie jigs, except at cataract where we often catch them on jigs, but at my home lake I just can't seem to figure out how to catch crappie on jigs with any regularity at all.  Any suggestions?  It would be a lot easier to not have to buy minnows and you could cover water much easier.

[OddChase]

18 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

Crappie fished in the rain this afternoon for five hours with my dad.  With the mild cold front messing them up we only caught fourteen, but they were solid 11-14 inches.  They are still hanging around docks in two to six feet of water, but I got the feeling that the spawn is starting to tail off.  Is any other crappie fisherman noticing this, or does the spawn usually last longer than a week and a half or so?  I'm still new to crappie fishing, only done it for a few years and only once every week or two.  We tried small curly tail grubs, but only caught two so we switched to a double minnow rig two feet under a small float and caught the rest of the fish on that.

 I never have been able to do very well on crappie jigs, except at cataract where we often catch them on jigs, but at my home lake I just can't seem to figure out how to catch crappie on jigs with any regularity at all.  Any suggestions?  It would be a lot easier to not have to buy minnows and you could cover water much easier.

Honestly this is a bad year to try and learn the crappie spawn. This spring has been different compared to years past with the sudden jump in temperatures. Personally, I haven't been able to catch crappie in normal spawning locations but instead I found them up in creeks and inlets. The spawn usually only lasts 2 weeks at most so your timing is pretty much spot on.

In regards to using something other than minnows, as a bank fisherman I use a set up with a casting float (basically a clear bobber that sits sideways) and a small tube jig with anywhere between 1 foot and 3 foot of leader. I often tip the jig with bee larva or wax worms if the bite is slow. If the crappie are spawning in full force, they'll hit anything in the water. I generally use a slow retrieve when fishing with the floating jig and it works well in 1 to 3 feet of water on the lake that I catch a lot of spawning panfish. Crappie tend to like jigs moving slowly, and they tend to look upwards for food. So the floating jig solves both of these problems you might be having with just a curly tail. 

This year I either missed the spawn or it hasn't happened yet. I went out last evening to try my usual spots but no hits. I wonder if the cold front had anything to do with it. I plan on trying some shallows at Summit Lake this week in between final exams, looking for bedding bass or maybe getting on some bluegill/crappie. 

[Alan Reed]

I feel like a fisherman today not just a guy that went out and fished.

i was on the large body of water of Maskatatuck Wildlife Refuge for about 5 hours before the storms rolled in. I got 17 LMB in, 2  threw the hook and 1 got in the weeds and broke my line. 

I was fishing a White Zoom Fluke on the edges of weeds, lily pads, and over the top of submerged timber in 4-6 ft depth. Visabilty was 2-3 ft.

[neocrunch]

I'm glad Alan had a good day. Mine was less than stellar. I caught half a dozen dink bass and a few bluegill. I hooked up with one large bass on a ned rig [likely would have been a new personal best] but I lost it right when I tried to grip her lip. Looks like I'll be purchasing a net this week.

[Amoore9900]

My day today wasn't as good I fished 5 hours and got 2 bass 1 small and 1 3 pounder...one of those days where you felt like they should be on but they were not...you talk about a net I was out with my brother and the net was at the house (which is up 50 steps) and Kevin said oh do we need the net I said no...I end up hooking a monster 8 pounds plus and my brother was pulling him out and he shook his head and he dropped him and my 20 pound braid broker...last time we went with no net

[IndianaFinesse]

4 hours ago, OddChase said:

Honestly this is a bad year to try and learn the crappie spawn. This spring has been different compared to years past with the sudden jump in temperatures. Personally, I haven't been able to catch crappie in normal spawning locations but instead I found them up in creeks and inlets. The spawn usually only lasts 2 weeks at most so your timing is pretty much spot on.

In regards to using something other than minnows, as a bank fisherman I use a set up with a casting float (basically a clear bobber that sits sideways) and a small tube jig with anywhere between 1 foot and 3 foot of leader. I often tip the jig with bee larva or wax worms if the bite is slow. If the crappie are spawning in full force, they'll hit anything in the water. I generally use a slow retrieve when fishing with the floating jig and it works well in 1 to 3 feet of water on the lake that I catch a lot of spawning panfish. Crappie tend to like jigs moving slowly, and they tend to look upwards for food. So the floating jig solves both of these problems you might be having with just a curly tail. 

This year I either missed the spawn or it hasn't happened yet. I went out last evening to try my usual spots but no hits. I wonder if the cold front had anything to do with it. I plan on trying some shallows at Summit Lake this week in between final exams, looking for bedding bass or maybe getting on some bluegill/crappie. 

Thanks for the help!  I will have to try the tube under a clear float trick next time I'm out crappie fishing.

19 minutes ago, Amoore9900 said:

My day today wasn't as good I fished 5 hours and got 2 bass 1 small and 1 3 pounder...one of those days where you felt like they should be on but they were not...you talk about a net I was out with my brother and the net was at the house (which is up 50 steps) and Kevin said oh do we need the net I said no...I end up hooking a monster 8 pounds plus and my brother was pulling him out and he shook his head and he dropped him and my 20 pound braid broker...last time we went with no net

Murphy's law states that if you ever forget your net, you will lose a big fish because of it.  Unfortunately I also lost a very big bass last year while trying to lip it, because for the first time ever I forgot my net and paid the price of a lost trophy.

Anyway, I fished this afternoon for About four hours.  I found a couple clearer coves with three to for feet of visibility and sight fished for bedding bass there.  I slowly moved around near the shorelines looking for a bass worth spending a little time on and then rotated between the trd, a crawbug, a jig, a split shot rigged lizard, and a small two inch paddle tail grub until I found what that particular bass wanted.  It was a lot of fun watching the bass and there reactions, plus since I could almost pick which fish I caught the smallest bass out of twenty three still weighed 1.8 pounds and the largest was 4.4.  The weather was great to, much better than yesterday's.  I'm planning on heading to cataract next Friday or Saturday, is anyone else going?  

On 4/27/2016 at 10:39 AM, Cole Richards said:

Taking the father in law out for crappie this weekend.

How did you guys do?

[Cole Richards]

18 minutes ago, IndianaFinesse said:

Thanks for the help!  I will have to try the tube under a clear float trick next time I'm out crappie fishing.

Murphy's law states that if you ever forget your net, you will lose a big fish because of it.  Unfortunately I also lost a very big bass last year while trying to lip it, because for the first time ever I forgot my net and paid the price of a lost trophy.

Anyway, I fished this afternoon for About four hours.  I found a couple clearer coves with three to for feet of visibility and sight fished for bedding bass there.  I slowly moved around near the shorelines looking for a bass worth spending a little time on and then rotated between the trd, a crawbug, a jig, a split shot rigged lizard, and a small two inch paddle tail grub until I found what that particular bass wanted.  It was a lot of fun watching the bass and there reactions, plus since I could almost pick which fish I caught the smallest bass out of twenty three still weighed 1.8 pounds and the largest was 4.4.  The weather was great to, much better than yesterday's.  I'm planning on heading to cataract next Friday or Saturday, is anyone else going?  

How did you guys do?

Got rained out , he didn't want to be cold and miserable lol . Goin on Tuesday 

[tstraub]

I went up to the campground yesterday for a few hours.  My father in law, my oldest son, and I went out on the boat and made a few laps looking for bass.  I had one hit on a power worm but came up empty on the hookset.  My youngest son stood on the pier with grandma throwing a small minnow bait on a 1/64oz jig head.  We watched him reel in about a dozen crappie in a very short period of time.  so we lightend up and targeted pan fish and got a few nice bluegill ,crappie, and couple very small bass but still got our butts kicked by my 10 year old boy standing on a pier with a $15 zebco combo.  He'll never let us live that down.  My father-in law(his grandpa) and I have never had such a good time getting out fished.   

Tyler