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Crappie Honeyhole: Create Your own!
Where you find structure you will find crappie. If you prepare correctly you can prepare your own crappie "honey holes" .The key is to create crappie holding areas that only you have the location. You can sink brush, plastic and even home made pvc brush piles. The very best brush to sink is "willow tree" branches. They seem to create month long crappie honey hole swarms, I am not sure why, it just my experience. Make sure you cut long cuttings with at least 7 to 10 branches at least 3 foot long with lots of small little branches. Sink you branch cuttings or any of the other artificial structure you plan to sink, with a cement block or something heavy so it sinks directly below where you put it in the water. Also , the brush won't shift if it is anchored down. I always use a cement block with a short rope about 2ft long, tied to the main cut branch. Crappie are very similar to bass because they like to stay hidden waiting for unsuspecting prey.
If you want to get a early start creating your "crappie honey hole" get your structure together in the fall and sink it. The advantage of doing this The best time to create your crappie honey hole is in the fall and very early spring (right after ice out).
For best results create your crappie brush farms in three different depth locations. Mark your locations to sink brush in the shallows, mid depth locations, and deeper water. I would suggest you build and sink your artificial crappie structure in areas that are not accessed easily by other fisherman. Make sure you drop your brush when no fisherman are watching. If your honey hole gets a lot of fishing pressure the crappie may move out to other fishing locations. I always look for places that would not interest casual boaters. You are probably asking why? Well by using three different locations you create crappie honey holes for different parts of the fishing season. I you can find a spot where the bottom starts deep and gradually goes to shallows you can build your three locations inline. Just mark each location with a GPS point, that way you can come back again and again without wasting any precious fishing time. If you have young children this is an excellent way to get them interested in fishing. Kids are impatient, but if you take them to a honey hole where the action is almost instant, you will nurture their interest in a wonderful sport.
This technique will work no matter where you are located at. Crappie love brush and structure as their habitat no mater what part of the country you live in. Make sure you check with your local laws to find out what is legal to sink for structure.
One more point I want to address. Make sure you check with your states regulations for placing objects in your fishing area. If you are ready to catch a regular batch of crappie whenever you go out fishing then get out and create your crappie honey hole now! Good luck with your fishing see you later.
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