[Pope]

I broke the catfish board in and I am going to put the "white perch" board to use now. All of you guys know I fish for more than tuna. Anyway, you guys have heard me say it before. Silly rabbit, spinning rods are for crappie.
So this question is for you spinner boys. I use spectra (Power Pro) on all my wading and bass rods. The only reels not loaded with spectra are my crappie (spinning) reels. I have read your discussions on loading spectra on the heavy spinners. Do I have to follow the same procedure on the ultra lights? I could really use the sensitivity for fishing crappie deep in the winter and shooting docks in the summer. Heaven forbid I hang up in a brush pile. May need to tie a 3 foot top shot on mono in case I need to break the line.

 

[Snagged]

If i remember I've see 4# spectra advertised. It still must be tight.

 

[SkeeterRonnie]

Only problem with braid is yu pull too many hooks out of their "paper" mouths. The best line I have found is Suffix 10# in yellow for my crappie fishing. BTW~ 2 springs ago I pulled a 3.5 lb white crappie out of Benbrook. I of course admired it, then turned it back. It deserved to live. Hit me up next spring and I will take you crappie fishing on Benbrook.... i know of about 10 brushpiles.... thats the time my dad and I fill our freezers with fillets that last until the fall. very easy to limit out in 3-4 hours..... with 12-14" crappie. I dont keep em unless I can fillet em.(hopefully there will be water in the lake next year)

 

[Pope]

Thanks and I hope we get some water soon. I would like to fish all the new cover we would get this spring.

 

[PiePuncher]

Just make sure you use mono first and put the line on tight. When you plan on slamming the paper mouths? I would also use a 3ft leader as you suggested. Braid would deff. be the way to go in the deeper water.
I know quite a few people that have been slamming the crappie on RR. Seems the bite has been good. Good luck

Keith

 

[PiePuncher]

4lb spectra would be awesome!!! I bet you would feel everything, what would the diameter be? Must be like one hair of spectra....lol

 

[Pope]

I was thinking 20lb spectra. 4lb would be microscopic. I usually start fishing crappie after duck season on Fork. I would guess Ray Roberts would be an easy lake for winter crappie too. That is if they orient to the deep brish piles. I usually fish ledges and humps on Fork with no brish at all. Thanks for all the info guys.

 

[Sea Crappie]

Can't help it. Have to make a token appearance on this thread.


Carry on......

 

[ksong]

As you guys use 4 - 8 lbs mono line for crappie, I don't know there is any merit to use braided lines. In my opinion you don't need thinner lines than 4 - 8 lbs mono lines. If you don't feel any bite on those line, you are not sensitive enough. Keep in mind that braided lines are not known for their abrasion resistance. I still favor mono line for bait fishing though I exclusively use braided line for jigging.

 

[Pope]

That is what I would be doing, jigging in 50ft of water with a 1/8oz jig. The fish are so lethargic from being in cold water that you can barely feel them pick up the jig. My hands are also in gloves. The colder the better. They get bunched up.

Sea Crappie, your weigh in was hilarious..

 

[Snagged]

Pope,
We used 20# spectra years ago for jigging walleye under the same conditions years ago and were able to limit easily.
Small mono has too much strech and doesn't transmit as well. Use a limber rod and very lite drag.

 

[Pope]

I have to give PiePuncher props for turning me onto P-lines' Spectrex spectra line. He called and said they were having a sale on it and I could get a spool for $4! The sale was over by the time I got there, but i bought some anyway. This is some very round, nice limp stuff! If it works as well as it looks and feels I going to load all my light outfits up with it.