Can't find the Crappie!

[Jetsbaby]

So you guys are my last AND only hope to put fish in the boat at Bartlett. We have fished twice at Bartlett and can't seem to find the crappie. I have two five year olds that if they don't start catching fish quick they get very board. I have a fish finder and still seem to catch bass, which we trow back and small blue gill..We have been fishing the coves and no luck at all..I want to join the Arizona Crappie Association but the next meeting is for prospects that have attended at least one meeting.. I am willing to pay a guide or some one to come on my boat and show me some secrets and locations where I can find them in Bartlett..We have been primarily fishing with minnows. HELP

[Fishless]

the lake dropped quick for quite a while then SRP turned around and raised it quit, which will mess up the crappie, coves should be good flats with trees can produce well as can up lake in the river structure and brush. I have not fished Bartlett in a month with the goofy water conditions, lot of the guys troll small jigs slowly through areas that might hold crappie. It is definitely a learning curve for crappie especially at Bartlett.

[OneBlade]

The Desert Rat fishes there frequently and may be there and very friendly.  He's camped in SB Cove and often on the lake on a deck boat and may offer some tips if you ask nicely:
http://forum.azcrappie.com/index.php/topic,2353.0.html

[cousinlll]

LOL, don't feel bad & certainly don't give up!!    Your question(s) might be better served by asking about techniques rather than location.  It's been a very strange year for Crappie fishing around here but hang in there, ask questions & most importantly the more time you spend on the water the more you learn.

I want to join the Arizona Crappie Association but the next meeting is for prospects that have attended at least one meeting

The next open meetings are in Sept & Oct so keep an eye on our calendar.  We try to update it as much as possible.  Post with any questions you may have....... 

[ArZFisher]

Like everyone else said dont give up. This year is really tuff and strange. I have only caught 5 this whole year. Last year was great. My buddy and I went out last night caught 1 in 12 hrs of hard fishing.  Anywhere you can find structre from Cat's bay up river usually is good for me. Anyways remember don't give up.

[The Desert Rat]

After 17 beautiful days/nights on the lake,camping at SB Cove, the TNF Manager politely Told me to pack it up---Short of the long---found the slabs in Alder Cove ( lasted for a couple of days )--then---BINGO---Cat Bay-Cat Bay -Cat Bay----trolled ,using Split Tail Rappala"s --shad colored--most slabs measured 17 inches +/- a few centimeters--no tricks,no magic,trolled and trolled---18 feet of water to 28 feet of water--Kinda strange behavior--More times ( days) then not, started fishing at 5:30-6 am---NO Crappie--then--wham !! right around 8 am the schools moved in  following the shad balls--the feeding would typically last until 11 am---and pick up again around 5-6 pm---temp 72.x degrees today---I lost several split tails and reverted to deep running shad lures---hard time keeping the Bass and occasional Flathead off--
one boat bagged a few using Roadrunner with BBC---the biggest producer was the Rappala---I tried many days using the usual BBC, Acid Rain, watermelon, tipped and minnows naked--- nothing---
hope to see you at the next meeting---Larry, I may need a new Stainless Steel bowl

[cousinlll]

Larry, I may need a new Stainless Steel bowl

Don't tell me that bowl is worn out already.......   

Very nice report David, Thanks!

[OneBlade]

Thanks for the report Desert Rat - next time put this as a Bartlett report instead of tagging along this thread.  I'm sure you had great weather and so forth down there in SB cove.  Glad you found some crappie!