White perch Fishing
January 17th, 2007 by Fishing admin
Each year about this time the folks who enjoy catching crappie ( white perch ) become active.
It seems that there have been more lingering cold fronts during the past few months than usual.
Those of us who look forward to the annual Toledo Bend Crappie run could not be more delighted.
The colder the weather and the lower the lake’s water temperature the better the fish catching.
I had mentioned in an earlier column that the fish were already in the Chicken Coop area of Toledo Bend.
That’s the area that’s north of the Pendleton Bridge where most of the crappie action has historically taken place.
Well, as predicted they are even more numerous now.
The white perch have ganged up out in the deeper water along the river channel in water that’s twenty-five feet deep down to thirty five feet deep.
Believe me you need to know the depth for consistent catching.
I’ve found that the folks at Newell’s Fishing World (409- 625-4928) are willing to give you that information.
The fact is that as good as the action has been when the water gets off-color due to heavy rains the bites slow down.
The Chicken Coop area is a pretty fair drive from our area.
I’d advise anyone who is planning to head that way to call ahead and find out what the conditions are.
When you arrive at the area where the fish catching occurs there will be others present.
I don’t mean a boat or two. There could be between a hundred and three hundred boats along that stretch of the old river.
Many times the angler’s boats will actually touch one another. Since the fish are so deep and everyone is fishing directly beneath their boats there doesn’t seem to be any conflict.
Folks simply accept the situation and do their own thing, which is catching white perch.
I really enjoy using artificial lures when it is prudent.
Using crappie jigs in water that’s very deep is, in my opinion, more trouble than it’s worth.
Get a bucket full of live shiners and use a lead sinker to get the bait to the fish. Once they are located mark your line at the correct depth.
That makes it easy to keep putting the shiner where the fish are feeding.
Some boats will put out three to five rod and reels per angler.
When the action is good that will keep you busy.
As things slow down the extra baits will give better odds of catch the fish.
I highly recommend hiring a guide who is familiar with the area and deep-water fishing.
All sorts of boats will be present in the area, but that’s an open part of Toledo Bend.
Should there be strong winds the larger bay type boats are good choice.
The very best choices for a crappie fishing buggys are the pontoon boats.
These boats allow for both fishing and relaxing.
They will also do a fair job should the water get rough.
If you like to eat white perch there is, in my opinion, no better place that the Chicken Coop in winter.
Billy Halfin
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