How to catch them as far as I know right now.

[Bob M]

Getting ready for vacation so I rushed through the 5 hours of video I took in the bite zone and through this together for you guys.  I urge you to watch it full screen and I did not spend even a minute on its audio so it means nothing, you should just turn it off.

First off, the bite we have found is at, or very near the bottom in 18' up to 35' of water on Bartlett, similar on other lakes.  The bite is seen at the surface as mostly very light.  I think the depth and length of line out slows the visual indications we are looking for.  For my vacation I've made a hi def video camera to use in very deep water and did some testing of it this past weekend while we caught a bunch of crappie.

All of the crappie we have been cleaning have guts full of green goo, no shad or minnows.  The green goo is the tons of zooplankton that thrive below the daylight I believe.  Most of the fish we are catching are on or near the bottom and hitting up, they seem to be holding in the dark zone and striking whatever moves above them.

In these few moments of video you will see very few fish but we were very busy up front of the boat keeping lines from tangling from bites.  The camera was trailing our rigs by 15' and has a large light on it that scares fish apparently.  You will see a large Gill that I've found is common in crappie stacks as well as whats down where the crappie like to hang, thousands of zooplankton and if you watch close you will see a crappie in the mix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBZVN4_5zfk&feature=youtu.be 

[on the rocks]

Bob M,

Very cool video, as many have previously said you are in the zone right now. I am very grateful for your postings and techniques. My crappie experience has always told me to fish shallow as crappie feed up. I am not sure what the attraction of the green goo on the bottom is to these fish but it is obvious right now they are preferring it to shad or minnows. Great insight Thank you for sharing.

[IAMMAC]

Interesting video...I like the aggressiveness of the Crappie/Bluegill.  Almost liek watching Shark Week!

[menrats]

well now bobm that was fine. as have your other posts of late. thank you. im thinkin little tiny shrimp or other small or tiny pupae flies tricos or copper johns or tiny ice fishin jigs to imitate the green chum?
by the way what are your thoughts on the location for spring crappie fest?

[OneBlade]

Interesting idea.  Are you able to view it live on the boat or is it just capturing and then later you have to sit through for 4 hours of it and find stuff?  Do you use it to help your fishing or just for fun?

[IAMMAC]

well now bobm that was fine. as have your other posts of late. thank you. im thinkin little tiny shrimp or other small or tiny pupae flies tricos or copper johns or tiny ice fishin jigs to imitate the green chum?
by the way what are your thoughts on the location for spring crappie fest?

I am thinking the same thing. Having fished back east, Wisconsin, I may have a few tricks up my sleeve that might just work! Too bad this damn front is coming through! Figures though whenever there is a good bite going the weather shuts it down!