Perch and Crappie

Post by **Bass assassin** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:28 pm

Hey gang,
I am thinking of heading out on Fri am to try my luck at a little panfish action. I am thinkig of tying up a few this week in preparation. What would you guys suggest for this time of year? I am thinkng that terrestrials and other insects may be a little early. Any other suggestions?
Alos, anyone know of a place that has open water and sunfish to explore? I was thinking of trying it out in Appleton.
Thanks,
BA

Website · Post by **Mike Lennox** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:51 pm

hey bass assassin,

It's definitely too early for anything on the surface but you could get away with using nymphs for sure. Don't try anywhere where there's current theyre too lazy to fight it right now so somewhere deep and no current

Minnow flies work well this time of year here are two of my favorites:

the cyperts minnow. a great crappie and perch fly

and heres a link to the crappie candy:

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytyin ... 1fotw.html

good luck, The larrys open and I caught a couple of small perch there in a little over half an hour on the cyperts minnow.

Post by **Todd B.** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:20 pm

BA,

I was out for bit yesterday with no luck, though I've heard that some people are already catching crappie. Your best bet is to check out the creeks that feed into the Rideau. (south of Manotick) These shallow backwater areas warm up quickly and are a magnet for the crappie.

As for flies, you're probably looking at size 10-14 beadhead or weighted flies. Just have a peak at the various micro tube jigs, etc. For crappie I find it's more size/colour. Put on some indicator putty and you have a simple float/fly rig. you'll have to vary the location of the indicator putty till you find the particular depth at which the fish are holding.

Cheers,
Todd

Post by **ganman** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:45 pm

I don't find fly fishing for perch much fun. The big ones hang too tight to bottom and that usually means lead, crappies are a little better.

I like fishing for bluegills in May/June. Find a special place/lake that has big ones and fish for them with a light rod and little poppers or those foam spiders. They'll smack it real hard like a bass or trout taking a dry fly and put up a great fight.

Post by **Fishboy** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:56 pm

I was thinking a little surface action might be possible if the water heats up. Mini-poppers are good and I love smaller size muddlers.

BA, do you flyfish for bass, too? I love smallies on a 6-wt and largemouths on a 9-wt.

Post by **Bass assassin** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:22 pm

Thanks all,
Flyboy, I do fish for bass with the flyrod. I have an 8 et. I hope to use it more this summer. I am strictly a shore- man or the odd time the the float tube. I only have float line which I thinking of spooling an intermediate sink line on another reel this summer.
I hope to get out and cathc a pike on the fly rod at some point this summer. I have yet to get into any bass of any significant size yet. Mostly little smallies out at Blakeney.
BA

Post by **Todd B.** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:16 am

BA,

You can hook into some nice smallies, pike and eyes around the tailouts at Blakeney. I'm sure you could find some nice pike in the "back pond" at Blakeney as well in the spring.

Cheers,
Todd

Post by **Bass assassin** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:42 pm

Todd,
I think we may have seen each other there last summer. I was in a float tube in the back pond and I think you and the "Mrs" were just wading down from up top. I have stood up high on the rock face at that pond and seen some large smallies. The big are stubborn. I have caught a couple of 4-5lbs pike at the bottom there on white spinnerbaits but no luck with the fly rod. I have suspected the wallys there as well. Have you been successful with the fly rod? Do you use floating line or sinking?
BA

Post by **Todd B.** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:15 am

BA,

Yes that was me and the Mrs. (to be). What you refer to as the back pond we refer to as the back channel, as there is a large pond back upstream, that is fed by one of the side channels. If I had a tube I'd definitely give the pond a try for spring pike when the season opens. There is a path down to it from the road on the north side of the bridge. I'm betting the tailouts will be a good spot for pike/eyes when it opens in June (Special regs - fish sanctuary) I had a good sized pike bite me off last fall and managed a half dozen eyes down there, best ~23".

I've almost exclusively fly fish now and basically only pull out my spinning tackle for crappie/panfish or eyes at Hogs Back during the spring high water.

As for lines, I've been exclusively using floating line, though do have a sink tip extension. I might pick up an intermediate sinking line this season if I do more lake fishing. Till then the floating line works for me.

If you need help feel free to give me a shout. I'm looking to put on an introductory workshop for the new OFS members sometime this spring.

Cheers,
Todd

Post by **bowboy33** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:49 am

You guys are right, there was a bite on the rideau thurs, friday due to the hot temps, but that's been put on hold for now due to the colder weather. When it warms up it will be back on. Flies for crappie that ive had great luck on are bright and sparkle. Mylar, peacock herl, flashabo. Pinks, chartreuse maybe small bead heads. You dont want the much weight or the fly will pass out of the strike zone too fast. I use a lot of tubes and flies under a float and a tiny tube jig head that falls slower that other peoples jigs usually puts me into more fish. SSHHH Not many guys take that into acount. AS for top water... the water temp really has to warm up for them to turn on. Ive had fantastic days under the float and had zero action on the surface or even with sub surface mini cranks. But a couple of warm days and the pans should start moving into feeder creeks and bays that hold the warmth. Early in the season, afternoon in the best time, after the sun has time to warm the water. Good luck. Let us know how you do.

Post by **Bass assassin** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:59 pm

Hey YFF,
Do you know where I can get tying instructions for the Cypert Minnow?
Thanks!
BA

Website · Post by **Mike Lennox** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:09 pm

Hey bass assassin this is the best recipe i could find. Its on the flyanglersonline panfish section. Good luck.

It took me over a year to figure out how to tie this fly the first time. It is a Cyperts Minnow. I finally got a picture of it online and then it was simple.

Materials Cyperts Minnow
Hook - size 6 to 10.
Eyes - Bead chain eyes.

Chenille looped over eye and tied a bend on each side in choice of color; mylar tubing over the hook eye and then flat on top and bottom of the fly with the tubing frayed for a tail.

I have these tied in six different colors and they all work. Let the fish tell you how fast to retrieve this fly.

Post by **Fishboy** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:42 pm

Where exactly is Blakeney?

Post by **Bass assassin** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:28 am

If you head out to Almonte, go into town until the second lights (there is a mac's on the right and a garage on the left. Turn right and head out about 6km. When you come into Blakeney trun left at the stop sign. Go around the bend and cross the bridge and there you are.
Long story short - North of Almonte.
Hope that helps,
Craig

Post by **Bass assassin** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:29 am

Hey guys, thanks to Todd B. Here is the link for the Cyperts minnow.
http://www.eflytyer.com/patterns/cypert_minnow.html