Potomac Crappie

[TOXIC]

Went out Sunday to check on the migration of the Crappie in the Potomac.  Currently, they are in the creek channels and canal channels.  In the process of searching with 2 inch tubes on 1/16 oz jigheads we caught Bluegill, Catfish, Ring Perch Bass and of course a fair amount of Crappie.  Key was to find them on electronics and drop the jig down to them.  They should be pulling up under cover with the upcoming cold weather in the forecast.  

 

 

[Darren.]

Nice, healthy-sized crappie.

 

Too darn cold down here in Hampton Roads to get

out...Well, not really *that* cold, but with all the rain

and my hybrid kayak (no scuppers), it wouldn't be

fun. Although we are under a freeze warning thru

Saturday AM!

 

Though one of my boys got out in a brackish creek on

Sunday and caught a nice 16" striper...

[TOXIC]

I don't plan on getting back out there until I go for a freezer stocking trip.  I have access to the hot side of Lake Anna and that will be where I spend most of the winter.  

[Steveo-1969]

Nice crappie! I only catch a couple a year in the Upper Potomac though I don't target them. Caught my first of the year a couple weeks ago.

 

What is a "ring perch"?  Is that another name for "yellow perch"?

[TOXIC]

On 11/9/2017 at 3:33 PM, Steveo-1969 said:

 

What is a "ring perch"?  Is that another name for "yellow perch"?

Yes, depending on which part of the country you are from.   A lot of fishermen around here target White Perch (which also have 10 different names depending on where you are from) so I make sure I call them what the Northerners call them.  When up north (WI, SD, ND, MI, etc.) a "Perch" is a Yellow or Ring Perch.  As you head south there are a lot more names for the same fish.  Problem around here is that it's tough to catch enough for a good fish fry but if I catch a keeper size Perch while Crappie fishing, it'll go in the well.  Normally, I don't keep Bluegills unless they are monster size.  I also like to have a fish fry while they are still fresh and not frozen,  I will freeze a couple of meals worth but no more than that.  

[Steveo-1969]

Gotcha, thanks TOXIC! I grew up in WI and we called them yellow perch. Interesting that you catch them in the lower Potomac, but I've never caught one in the Upper Potomac and I've been fishing it pretty heavily for the past 7 years.

 

Regional names can definitely get confusing. When I moved to WV I heard people talk about catching "goggle eyes". I later found out they were catching "rock bass". And I have a fishing buddy who calls any kind of panfish a "perch" no matter what it is.

[TOXIC]

If you say you caught a Rock Bass in this part of the country, you are talking about Striper.