Every crappie angler knows that brushpiles and fallen treetops are prime places to
find lots of crappie. However, not all brushpiles are created equal – meaning they
shouldn’t always be fished the same way. (Image courtesy Nexus Outdoors)
Dissecting Brushpiles
by Tim Huffman
It is really no secret to any crappie angler that the tasty fish have an affectionate love affair with brushpiles. Brushpiles, stakebeds, treetops, or other similar crappie palaces are places where fish can find shade, food and protection from bigger fish. But some places we fish have an overabundance of brushpiles and treetops. So how do you sort through them to know which are the best places to target.
Brushpile Fishing Savvy
Kentucky fisherman Dean McCoy, sponsored by B’n’M Poles, Cornfield Fishing Gear and Crappie Magnet, has a lifetime of fishing experience.
McCoy says brushpile fishing technique depends upon the fish.
“In June, when fish are on or near the top of the brushpile, I cast. The fish are aggressive and will go after a jig. Just be sure to keep the bait about a foot over the fish and brush to reduce hangups,” he said.
He added, “I never expected to be using 2-pound-test line, but I’ve switched to it and I’m catching a lot more fish. In stained water I’ll still use six-pound-test. My bait is a 1/16-ounce jig or a 1/32-ounce jig with a tungsten weight above it.”
He says if your electronics show you the fish are deep in the brush rather than suspended above, you need a different presentation.
“Fish that are down in the brush require a vertical presentation. A jig can be fed down into the cover to get to the fish. I use a B’n’M 14-foot Diamond pole or 18-foot Black Diamond because forward-facing sonar (FFS) and fishing pressure has made fish spookier. I often use a 1/16-ounce Hammer Head Eyehole jighead with a Crappie Magnet body.
“Fish can be anywhere on a brushpile. I believe fish get down in the cover when there has been a rain or something to cause current, or when a barometric change gets them to where they don’t feel like doing anything. We as humans sometimes bundle up and relax until things get back to normal. I believe that’s what fish do too.”
McCoy has learned that the larger brushpiles produce better numbers of crappie. At Kentucky Lake that’s 10- and 11-inch fish, the perfect size for eating. A fisherman sometimes catches a limit on one or two brushpiles. He says you might catch a big slab anywhere, but he says smaller spots, like a few stakes or a small piece of brush, may not produce but one or two fish but these fish are usually big crappie.
McCoy says a basic sonar will work but FFS greatly improves time management by finding more fish and avoiding dropping a bait into an empty brushpile.
“I won’t spend too much time trying to get fish to bite,” said McCoy. “I’ll try to get them to bite for 10 to 15 minutes and then I’ll move on, unless I see a really big fish, then I’ll stay a little longer.”
It is not unusual to fish a brushpile, catch a few fish, but then they quit biting even though your electronics tell you there are still crappie down there. Some anglers might leave that spot and never come back. McCoy said that is a mistake.
“Brushpiles can replenish in a couple of hours,” said McCoy. “Don’t hesitate to go back to one in a couple of hours and try it again after it settles down.
“We’ve been talking advanced electronics. For someone wanting to quickly learn or improve their knowledge of FFS, hire a guide who teaches on-the-water electronics instruction. Don’t worry about catching fish, just learning electronics.”
The Perfect Brushpile
Dean McCoy said, “The perfect brushpile for June? It’s brush or a stakebed, 7 to 10 feet deep, 4×8 feet across and 2.5 to 3 feet tall.”
Charlie Bunting, 3-time Classic Champ, said, “Crappie will often come up out of a brushpile to take a bait. I’ll hold the jig directly above it or I will back off and cast when they want a moving bait, bringing the jig right over the top of the bed. Keep the bait about six inches over the brush. Of course, when fish are in the brush, bait must be dropped inside the brushpile.”
David Jones, Kentucky guide and classic champ, said, “On Green River, I still like to slow troll because my clients have more opportunity to catch fish than when using FFS. And it’s fun. I ease up to a brushpile with the boat facing the wind. I fish the outer edges first, then over it and then in it. By working the sides first, I don’t spook the fish like I would if I moved right into it. So, work your way in slowly and you’ll catch more fish.”
Eric Cagle, Alabama and Mississippi guide, and tournament champ, said, “One important thing I’ve learned the hard way is to keep moving. When fishing a brushpile and you catch some fish from it and then fish quit biting, don’t stay there trying to make others bite. If you stay you might catch a few more, but it’s best to go to the next brushpile and catch active fish.”
Cowboy Craig Nichols, Oklahoma guide and national champ, said, “I like to side scan to mark brushpiles, then go back and fish them. If the fish are in a feeding mode, with traditional sonar or down-imaging, it will look like a tiny tornado over the brush. You’ll see the fish above the brushpile. I’ll usually start by casting past the brush, counting the jig down an bring the jig across the top of the brushpile.”
Brushpile Selection and Placement
Every year McCoy builds and deploys his own crappie brushpiles and stake beds. But how does he decide where to put them.
“It’s true that the edges of channels have a lot of beds,” says McCoy. “It’s a natural travel path for fish so a bed can be successful. However, I’ve found that flats with small six-inch to two-foot changes in contour to be as productive as any other place I put beds. The contours are little paths the fish follow. They don’t always choose a big creek or river drop. Flats provide a place for crappie to feed so a bed is an obvious holding spot for them. The shallower the water, the smaller the drop it takes to hold fish.”
Finding Fish
McCoy said spending time on the water is critical.
“Just know that if you only fish every few weeks, you’ll not catch as many fish as the fisherman who fishes all the time. You’ll not know exactly what the fish are doing. Time in the fishing seat on the water will lead to more fish in the livewell. You must know your electronics, too. So, take time to learn your electronics and spend as much time as possible on the water.
“If you’re going to a new lake, be sure to ask the guy at the bait shop for the crappie depth. He, or she, will tell you because they want you to be successful. Check online fishing reports. If you’re going to the lake for a few days, I suggest hiring a guide the first day. They can show you the depth, type cover to look for and an area of the lake. You can go out the rest of the trip and do the same thing to catch fish. Don’t fish his spots but you can find similar places because you know what to look for and how to catch them.”
Senior CrappieNOW writer and Legend of the Outdoors Hall of Fame member, Tim Huffman, has several books, including his newest, Papermouth, Modern Fishing Techniques, available in Kindle or paperback at Amazon, or link from his website, www.monstercrappie.com
