Page 4 - Crappie NOW - October 2018
P. 4

Fall Ledges















            Ledges are structures that can work
     year round. They can be creeks, rivers or
     ditches  and  smaller  creeks  running  into
     bigger  ones.  Ledges  are  the  focus  point
     but  natural  covers,  manmade  covers  and
     associated flats are all part of the system.

     Why
            Fish  follow  the  ledges  in  and  out  of
     different  depths  of  water.  In  the  fall  they
     will move back and forth into shallow water
     chasing shad. Cool nights, shorter daylight
     times  and  cooling  water  determines  when
     and where the baitfish and crappie will be.

     Strategy
            Fish  follow  shad  in  the  fall  so  water
     temperatures  should  determine  whether
     a  fisherman  starts  shallow,  deep  or
     somewhere in between. As the water cools,
     the  fish  move  shallower.  The  shad  follow
     the ledges, too, so they determine specific
     crappie  locations.  The  only  exception  to
     ledge  domination  is  when  the  shad  move
     up  on  the  flats  and  crappie  follow.  These
     are usually up in creeks or coves.
            CrappieNow              Publisher           and
     tournament fisherman, Dan Dannenmueller
     says, “Feeder creeks are a good place to                    Dan  Dannenmueller  with  a  nice  crappie
     start  in  the  fall.  There  will  be  ledges  and         caught on plastic tipped with a minnow. He
     flats. Search the ledges and look for wood,                 says changing up sizes, colors and sometimes
     intersections  and  forks.  When  they  are                       adding flash, can lead to more fish.
     combined with shad, it will be a great spot.
            “Electronics is a key component of fall
     fishing.  It  will  show  shad,  crappie,  ledges          what depth.
     and  cover.  Any  good  unit  will  show  the                     “Big fish don’t have to move too far.
     primary things you need to see. If you have                They  can  live  their  whole  life  in  a  creek
     and know how to use advanced electronics,                  or  river.  They  may  adjust  their  depths  for
     it speeds that search up. It’s easy to find a              the conditions and food, but will stay in the
     ledge, find a brushpile on that ledge, then                general  area.  When  they  are  hungry  they
     interpret  what  is  on  the  brushpile  and  at           eat  and  fall  is  one  period  when  I  believe
                                                                they feed more often to fatten up for winter.”

                                              4 Crappie NOW October 2018
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