Arizona Crappie Association

Lake Reports => Bartlett => Topic started by: Skeeterpeter on October 12, 2014, 11:44 PM

Title: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 12, 2014, 11:44 PM
Is there anything going on at Bartlet right now? Had minor success last year new to
The area from Midwest fishing is very different here. Any help would be great thanks!
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: menrats on October 13, 2014, 06:44 AM
bart sat. trolled the island up river and up to the bouys. just caught a bunch of small bass. three doubles even all three times I cruised by the tip of the island I doubled up on dink bass.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 13, 2014, 08:27 AM
Well thanks seems like the results I got a
Few weeks ago wonder if there are any left in there lol
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: cousinlll on October 13, 2014, 08:42 AM
Best advise I can give you is to ask questions, then ask more questions and finally keep on asking questions…….   :greengrin:

Crappie fishing has been difficult for most of us lately with hopes that the cooler weather will help the bite.  Lots of guys on this board willing to answer your gear & technique questions, all you have to do is ask.

Originally from the midwest myself so I understand your fishing culture shock.  Long lining 1/16 to 1/8 oz Roadrunners or jigs with Kalin grubs in black blue chartreuse (BBC) or john deer (JD) trolled at .8 or so mph seems to be the mainstay for most of us.  You'll have to experiment with other colors.  Other than locating fish, depth control is your most important factor.  Spider Rigging (Google is your friend) has become more popular here which is slow trolling around .3 or so mph fishing vertical with double minnow rigs or even jigs.  Lots of ways to fish with no right or wrong and one technique works better than another.

Biggest thing - don't give up - it will be frustrating - but keep on fishing as time on the water is your most important learning tool.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: sparkchaser on October 13, 2014, 08:45 AM
Fished Bart on Sunday from 0700 to 1200. We spider rigged deep in cat bay/ yellow cliffs area with drop shot rigs with minnows. Lots of fish on the graph suspended at 35 to 45 FOW. We had four poles out at various depths, but were only able to come up with a bunch of green carp, and catfish.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 13, 2014, 08:52 AM
Thanks! I've came a long way in the way of fishing them I've been doing all that
It just seems to me these fish are more finicky than other places in the us.
Or maybe the numbers just aren't there but that seems very unlikely with the amount of bait
Found in there and the amount of water that is swim able to them. In my opinion
Crappies are the only fish worth catching!
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: cousinlll on October 13, 2014, 08:54 AM
In my opinion Crappies are the only fish worth catching!

Nice!  You need to hang around here more often……. :headbang:
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 13, 2014, 09:39 AM
I wonder why they cannot be found more often surely they get hungry?
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Fishless on October 13, 2014, 05:02 PM
I wonder why they cannot be found more often surely they get hungry?

lots of food in Bartlett for them to eat they go to the buffet instead of waiting to be seated and served :o lake is plume full of shad and now SRP is dropping the lake so that adds to the equation
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 13, 2014, 10:04 PM
So do you think they will start following same pattern as last year? I believe it
Started to drop about this time last year and fish began being caught. Another question
Do you think the crappie pop is the same throughout the lake? Or do they tend to
Hold towards where the river comes in?
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: o from wi on October 14, 2014, 12:11 PM
Seems to me,,, when the water is rising,,, fish tend to go shallow for "new" food. When the water drops... the fish tend to go deeper for security. Keeping that in mind,,, you will find the fish,, shallow,,, deep,,, or somewhere in between :dance:
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Fishless on October 15, 2014, 06:08 AM
So do you think they will start following same pattern as last year? I believe it
Started to drop about this time last year and fish began being caught. Another question
Do you think the crappie pop is the same throughout the lake? Or do they tend to
Hold towards where the river comes in?

each year is different, weather, water temps etc. will make it an adventure and different lakes react different to changing conditions. You have to look and find
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: o from wi on October 15, 2014, 12:39 PM
Planning to go tomorrow,,, where can I find minnows. Starting from Sun City? Would I "need" them????
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 15, 2014, 12:45 PM
Marina is where I get them everytime I have never caught a crappie in az without them...
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: OneBlade on October 15, 2014, 01:30 PM
Call Bartlett lake marina at (602) 316-3378 and ask if they have minnows and what time they open.  I heard the store burned down but they have apparently a place somewhere nearby down near the water that sells minnows as well.  Other option would be Cabellas - do they sell?  Not sure north/west side where they sell minnows.  Bass Pro, Liars Corner, and D&R Baits all sell on the east side but that's out of your way and always call first.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: ArZFisher on October 15, 2014, 03:14 PM
The wild horse off lake pleasant parkway has them. 
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 15, 2014, 04:21 PM
The store on the dock at Bartlett sells them little trailer burnt down. Call them make sure they have them bass pro gets them on Tuesdays I believe maybe Wednesdays. So they should have them now (tho the don't last as long in my opinion)
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: craigm on October 15, 2014, 04:43 PM
if from Sun city you run out  99th to north lake pleasant parkway, I believe Wild Horse Bar and Grill almost always has minnows , Then just stay on that highway to Carefree, I have not been there since April but they were always open at 7am call first , We have had good luck at the Marina on Bartlett as well again as someone suggested call first .
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: IAMMAC on October 15, 2014, 04:46 PM
The marina does not have them at Bartlett, another member was told two weeks ago that it would be at least 6 weeks before they got any.  I get mine at Cabela's because it is the closest to me and I get them the night before I am going.  Wild Horse has them but not sure when they open.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: The Desert Rat on October 15, 2014, 07:17 PM
Just returned from Bartlett after 9 days of "NON-Catching"---I, like Sparkchaser, found many schools, various places around the lake, including Alder Cove and Cat Bay----35-50 feet of water, huge schools---water temp dropped to 73 degrees, down from 78-79 degrees 9 days ago---several facts:

Crappie fishing in Bartlett changes, not only frequently in time but rapidly---last year was the first year where literally thousands of Crappie were caught around the Island ( easy math, boats were fishing 7 days a week and many catching 30-50 fish per day)

Each year seems to have a different "Hot Spot"---(I have fished that lake for 41 years)

Crappie are Crappie----( --you experienced guys will understand that)

SRP sucking water out extremely fast this year--had to move the boat ea night or trailer it --option was having it dry docked in the morning--

--my guess---late late October , depending on water temp, the massive schools will become extremely aggressive and the fun will begin--

regarding minnows---Bartlett will not have minnows for about 5 more weeks---now it doesn't matter---you could put lipstick on a good lookin female minnow and the Crappie would/will still ignore it--
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: sandman on October 15, 2014, 08:15 PM
Just returned from Bartlett after 9 days of "NON-Catching"--- several facts :ecomcity::

Crappie fishing in Bartlett changes, not only frequently in time but rapidly  :dontknow: ---last year was the first year where literally thousands of Crappie were caught around the Island ( easy math, boats were fishing 7 days a week and many catching 30-50 fish per day) We NEVER caught even one fish there

Each year seems to have a different "Hot Spot"---(I have fished that lake for 41 years)  :happy1:

Crappie are Crappie----  :lol_hitting:

regarding minnows---Bartlett will not have minnows for about 5 more weeks--- Same as I reported 2 weeks ago while on a huge bite but thanks for saying it again.now it doesn't matter---you could put lipstick on a good lookin female minnow and the Crappie would/will still ignore it--  :sign0103:  Having watched you troll around us as well as pull your tubing guests through where we are fishing I know for a fact you do not understand the Crappie at Bartlett as well as one who's fished it "41 years" should by now.  PLENTY of fish in that lake and the bite is already on fire if you know where to find it.   


Hmmmmmm. Good info.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: craigm on October 16, 2014, 07:42 AM
I am pretty new at AZ crappie fishing , but It has occurred to me that some pretty basic northern tactics are never mentioned here , My question is has anyone tried waxies or meal worms on a very small jig , flu flu etc ??? These Ice fishing tactics often work in open water when things get tough , the small size of the bait does not influence the size of the fish up north as biologists there figure insects and larve make up a large part of the crappies diet up north . Recently the crappie bite was in a slump and we switched to blue gills and tiny baits as we accidently moved to deeper water ( wind) we began catching some very nice crappies . Maybe we need to change up our tactics for tight mouthed crappies , again has anyone tried it here?
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 16, 2014, 12:36 PM
Who's the tube puller? I strictly fish good info thank you very much desert rat I'm heading out now to Try it out... We will see I'll have a report towards dark!
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: IAMMAC on October 16, 2014, 12:57 PM
I am pretty new at AZ crappie fishing , but It has occurred to me that some pretty basic northern tactics are never mentioned here , My question is has anyone tried waxies or meal worms on a very small jig , flu flu etc ??? These Ice fishing tactics often work in open water when things get tough , the small size of the bait does not influence the size of the fish up north as biologists there figure insects and larve make up a large part of the crappies diet up north . Recently the crappie bite was in a slump and we switched to blue gills and tiny baits as we accidently moved to deeper water ( wind) we began catching some very nice crappies . Maybe we need to change up our tactics for tight mouthed crappies , again has anyone tried it here?

I have tried micro jigs that I bought back in Wisconsin and had really good success with them at night.  Never tried waxies though.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Piscolli on October 16, 2014, 05:10 PM
Hmmmmmm. Good info.

The fishing or the tubing?  :lol_hitting:
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: o from wi on October 16, 2014, 07:23 PM
Just got back myself. THX! for the minnow info. FYI,, Wild Horse opens at 6:00A.M. Did O.K. I guess,,, until we ran out of minnows. 5 crappies and about 100 or so bass. What kind and color did you bring back from WI???? I forgot mine :banghead: Tried some of John's tube jigs but nadda. I hope this link works http://youtu.be/rNwpN3IZWc8 I just posted it for ALL OF YOU!!!!
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: OneBlade on October 16, 2014, 07:34 PM
Thanks O for the report.  5 crappies good for a nice fry.  Scary wreck hope everyone was o.k.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: IAMMAC on October 16, 2014, 07:50 PM
Just got back myself. THX! for the minnow info. FYI,, Wild Horse opens at 6:00A.M. Did O.K. I guess,,, until we ran out of minnows. 5 crappies and about 100 or so bass. What kind and color did you bring back from WI???? I forgot mine :banghead: Tried some of John's tube jigs but nadda. I hope this link works http://youtu.be/rNwpN3IZWc8 I just posted it for ALL OF YOU!!!!

Chartreuse and white.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 16, 2014, 07:54 PM
I fished tight line bare hook and also a road runner with minnows up and down north end couldn't find a single crappie got prob thirty bass tho tried deep shallow inbetween. Trees mud rocks coves points and drop offs... What's the prob? Four pound test light rod moved slow/none and fast also. Hugged a road runner with grub tail everywhere every depth with nothing to show!
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 16, 2014, 07:57 PM
Where at in wi are you from? I'm from there too..
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: wadefisherman on October 16, 2014, 08:11 PM
Wild horse always has minnows, if coming from the west side.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: sparkchaser on October 17, 2014, 06:10 AM
Just got back myself. THX! for the minnow info. FYI,, Wild Horse opens at 6:00A.M. Did O.K. I guess,,, until we ran out of minnows. 5 crappies and about 100 or so bass. What kind and color did you bring back from WI???? I forgot mine :banghead: Tried some of John's tube jigs but nadda. I hope this link works http://youtu.be/rNwpN3IZWc8 I just posted it for ALL OF YOU!!!!
Nice work, heading up in the morning to give it a try.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: o from wi on October 17, 2014, 06:33 AM
Where at in wi are you from? I'm from there too..

Started in Sheboygan,,, in Tomahawk now. What kind of jigs did you use? I had some mighty mites,,, I think??? We spent most of our time around Cat Bay,, in the brush (trees?) Going up river next week.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 17, 2014, 06:37 AM
Ahh I was born in Menominee. I fished at no wake and up. Used small roadrunners big road runners plain jigs and bare hooks tried some bobby garland tails. Didn't try cAt bay..
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: IAMMAC on October 17, 2014, 06:38 AM
Where at in wi are you from? I'm from there too..

Started in Sheboygan,,, in Tomahawk now. What kind of jigs did you use? I had some mighty mites,,, I think??? We spent most of our time around Cat Bay,, in the brush (trees?) Going up river next week.

Mighty Mites and Cubby's plus a bunch of off name little jigs.  I have used ice jigs for gills and did really well when you can find the big ones.  I was born in Kenosha but moved to Florida as a kid.
Title: Re: Big Bart
Post by: Skeeterpeter on October 17, 2014, 02:14 PM
Tried a lot of bluegill fishing and can only seem to get the little dinks to bite. Just gotta keep fishing I guess
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