BIG CRAPPIE NOW
 More
on Where to Fish for Crappie
Editor's Note: If you want to find buried treasure,
you have to search for the places other treasure hunters
have overlooked. You must use research others haven't
discovered. You must develop a method of searching for
and finding the treasure all those who have failed haven't
used. "To find the biggest crappie in any lake,
you've got to fish the spots no one else knows about
with a method no one else uses at a time of year when
no one else fishes," says Gaston Jordan of Alexander
City, Alabama. Jordan catches the most crappie during
the hot summer months by fishing the bottom of any lake
in the middle of that lake. A lone soul anchored down
in a small boat in a vast expanse of water seems out
of place on a large lake as water-skiers and  tournament
bass fishermen race by on both sides. The men in these
big boats must wonder if Jordan has lost his mind. But
from May through September, Gaston Jordan finds the
big slab crappie that most other anglers don't catch.
"Crappie only spawn in shallow water for about
two weeks when the water temperature hits 65 to 70 degrees.
If you aren't on the lake fishing when the water temperature
in the shallows reaches that range, then you may miss
the spawn. However, before and after the fish spawn,
and even while they spawn, you can catch a large number
of crappie on deep-water humps in most lakes."
Jordan tends to catch bigger crappie on his deep-water
places for several reasons.  These
crappie rarely, if ever, see a bait other than Jordan's.
Also no one constantly harasses them like they do bank
crappie. Too, the crappie remain on these sites for
most of the year, unless they're caught during the spawn
in shallow water.
"I also catch the biggest crappie of the year
in the summer months after everyone else has quit fishing
because most people don't understand what the crappie
do after they spawn," Jordan comments. "Most
everyone knows crappie leave the shallow water and move
back to the deep water. However, when the fish swim
to deep water, they begin to feed heavily to build their
bodies back up after the spawn and to develop a layer
of fat for the winter. During the summer, you'll find
crappie generally larger in size than at any other time
of the year. Since crappie experience very little fishing
pressure from June to September, they can feed as much
as they want, get fat and not get caught by anyone but
me."
 Many
anglers improve their crappie fishing by planting brush.
But some people don't know how to build a good crappie
hot spot on a lake. "To have a tree that attracts
crappie, you need to sink that tree in an area with
no other cover around on which the crappie can hold,"
Jordan explains. "Don't submerge two or three trees
in the same place, because several trees in one region
don't seem to hold as many crappie as one isolated tree
will."
For more information about how to find and catch crappie,
order "The Masters' Secrets of Crappie Fishing"
by John E. Phillips by calling (800) 627-4295, using
PayPal or sending a check or a money order for $13.50,
which includes shipping and handling, to 4112 Camp Horner
Road Birmingham, AL 35243. You can learn more by visiting
www.nighthawkpublications.com/fishing/masterscrappie.htm.
TOMORROW: HOW TO FISH FOR CRAPPIE
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