crappie

Question
where is the best place to fish for crappie in october for
crappie  out from hales landing or the area close to it or do
i need to move further down river

Answer
Allen, I must admit that I am not the best person to answer your question because I am not familiar with the area from About Wingates upriver to Bainbridge.  I have had some good catches of crappie in the Flint River near the mouth of Spring Creek and up the Chatahoochee about two miles above the dam and in the Spring Creek arm of the lake.  As the water cools they should be in the deeper water wherever you fish.  I would guess but it is only a guess that the channel of the river if it has cover on it such as sunken brush or trees should produce good stings of crappie.  

I think the best way to search for these roving schools would be to find an area with 15 feet of water or more.  Try fishing deep with a live minnow or a small jig or jig and minnow.  If they aren't deep try fishing a bit higher in the water column gradually decreasing the depth until you find them or find that they aren't there and you should move.  Often a move of only a short distance will put you into an area where the fish are holding.  

If there are places where you have caught crappie before this time of year give them a try again but don't give up if they are not in the same place now as these fish are roamers.  They will move to a place where they find more food which is primarily small minnows.

Don't neglect the edges or holes in the hydrilla.  I try to find places where the hydrilla has left openings regardless how small.
Drop a lively minnow into these holes trying different depths and there is a good chance that you will find some of these tasty fish.
Usually if you can find them they will bite but they are sometimes difficult to find.  One of the best ways I have found to find them is to look for a gathering of boats in deeper water.  While not very original this has been my best bet for finding crappie.  Of course, don't crowd the other fishermen.  There is usually plenty of room to catch crappie without casting across someone else's line or bumping into their boat as I have seen some people do.

I am sorry I can't be more specific but I think there should be some of these fish in most areas of the lake at some time or another.  
I hope this has been of some help.  Thanks for calling on me to answer your question.

Jack L. Gaither       (JackfromSeminole)
Lake Seminole, Georgia