SoCal crappie fishing questions...

[aquaflamz]

I keep telling myself every year that I'm going to do a trip just for crappie, but always end up fishing bass. lol This year I'm doing it!

First, what lakes do you recommend for crappie?
What bait / techniques work for you?
I've seen video of people catching crappie at Irvine lake and have also been told that some nice sized slabs exist in Castaic lower lagoon. I caught a small crappie once at the lagoon campground side while trolling a small crankbait. Got off before I could grab him. lol
I will be fishing from a float tube FYI... Planning on getting an inflatable boat setup with a trolling motor in the near future. If anyone has some input for that, it would be a bonus!

Thanks!

[etucker1959]

I keep telling myself every year that I'm going to do a trip just for crappie, but always end up fishing bass. lol This year I'm doing it!

First, what lakes do you recommend for crappie?
What bait / techniques work for you?
I've seen video of people catching crappie at Irvine lake and have also been told that some nice sized slabs exist in Castaic lower lagoon. I caught a small crappie once at the lagoon campground side while trolling a small crankbait. Got off before I could grab him. lol
I will be fishing from a float tube FYI... Planning on getting an inflatable boat setup with a trolling motor in the near future. If anyone has some input for that, it would be a bonus!

Thanks!

Glad you asked!! Iv'e got my calender already marked for which month and lakes. Their is a gentlemen on FNN who is the Crappie king, but he uses skill and talent to catch those dumb things. My advice is for Joe average, who by just showing up at the lake is going to catch a bunch. The lakes to look at are Henshaw, Isabella, Elsinore, Piru and El Capitian. It all start's in APRIL, I repeat APRIL. Call down to the lakes and when it's on, get your hiney down to the lakes quick. I'll let the other's tell you about baits and lures. Good Luck

[aquaflamz]

Thanks for the lake recommendations!

Now I just need some input for bait / techniques.

I have a wal-mart bought ultralight setup. Quantum 5' ultralight action rod with an Okuma Avenger reel. (Both designed for 2-6lb line.) Sound like an OK setup for crappie? Already have my Thill bobbers in various sizes and the little knot stop ties for setting bait depth.

[QB7940]

Are you sure you wanna do this? Once you start targeting crappie its hard to go back to anything else. The fish in socal can be hard to find sometimes, but when you find them they can be world class sized fish. Spring time they are stupid easy to catch IF you find them. For lakes like elsinore and henshaw its not hard to figure out where they're spawning. The most consistent jig I have found to work on crappie in all socal lakes is a yellow/white tube jig. They take it better with a crappie nibble, and if the tube is on a tube jig vs a regular jig. BPS has a good selection of crappie stuff. Spring time is fun but when you can get them year round then you have got some serious skill, theres a few on here that do. These fish rock and I consider them almost a novelty cause they can be so elusive and picky (except spring). Try out lake gregory in late april, wanna know a secret? their big crappie are to be had at night. Watch this video, its a san diego area lake http://youtu.be/n1pX2Z_XGtM

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[trail blazer]

ISABELLA rules for spring slabs,,,,,,,,,,,,,,perfect for f/tubes back in kissack cove or over by camp 9

[keepemlo]

i love float tubeing for cappie,,i like the backside of perris,,but ive caught some monsters at castaic at night ,kinda tuff without the new ramp up and running;;everybody says april ive picked them up in feb too pre spawn,,hit me up when you want to try it sometime