Post By: dhoughton96 Posted: 3/10/2023 5:34:50 PMPoints: 0
Hi All, I will be making my first trip to Pueblo Sunday in hopes of getting into some crappie, and maybe walleye too. What is a good starting point as far as baits/lures for crappie? I remember going crappie fishing with my granddad a long time ago, we always used to use worms and bobbers. I'm fine doing this, if this is the most effective method still. I'll be fishing from a boat, and have a few spots picked out based on my Fish'N'Map. Thanks in advance!
Reply by: dizzel Posted: Mar. 10, 8:58:58 PM Points: 25021
Structure, Structure, Structure!
That is the key to catch the crappie, once you do find them, I would start off with a 1/64 oz jig head on 4lb line vertical jigging, using 1 inch dark colored bobby garland or any crappie plastics. Then change colors every 20 mins or so until you find what their mood is. Next you'll have to put that bait right in front of them. This is a bigger lake unlike a pond and with tons of baitfish.
As the water warms, move to 1/32 oz jig head and 2inch plastics.
Minnows and a bobber are probably the best method to catch crappie, however right now the water is cold, and they will be very lethargic, so the "other" key will be to place that bait just above them at close distance.
Walleye, 11pm-3am walking the shores with a suspending smithwick rogue , cast along the shoreline, jerk jerk then long pause 60+ seconds then jerk jerk and repeat..
Reply by: SGM Posted: Mar. 11, 8:01:25 AM Points: 22288
Dizzle pretty much covered it for you. Slow presentation is also very key. Live minnows fish straight down a tree trunk just might be the ticket. These last few warm days will definitely be a help. Good luck.
Reply by: Barnacles Posted: Mar. 11, 8:22:36 AM Points: 3897
I agree with everything dizzel says, with a few variations. I could be wrong, but I would expect to find them deeper right now. I've run into them in secondary, sheltered bays (within the main coves), --- basically the first places that the water temp is a few degrees warmer. But they might be staging, sulking out in 15-30' right now or still on deep winter structure --- not optimal for bobber & worm/minnow. I use a 1/16 oz. head with a 2" grub (something with sparkle for Pueblo). I'm usually counting down 10-15 seconds while it sink to the fish this early in the year.
Normally, I start to find them (crappie) in shallow water when the water temp gets in the 50s.
Tomorrow might be the first day out there for me this year too. Hope to have some better intel soon. Let us know if you get into em!
Reply by: anglerwannabe Posted: Mar. 11, 9:09:02 AM Points: 71621
FYI Dizzel lives by the lake and is constantly fishing it. And SGM lives just down the road and also frequently fishes it. They're the 2 guys I go with when I fish Pueblo
