creek fishing for crappie and catfish

Question
i live in crawfordsville IN. and fish at sugar creek. i have been fishing there for eight years.i have tried every thing to catch crappie in this creek. i even catch the minnows i use for bait at the creek..........is fishing for catfish at a dam good.what kind of bait should i use..is cut sucker fish good for catfishing.....i also like to fish for carp....i use my home made bait that my dad showed me how to make.he caught all kinds of fish with it but it seems like i cant.....if you have any suggestion can you help me

Answer
James; First are you sure there is a decent population of crappie in Sugar Creek?  If there is the next thing is to find the crappie.  Crappie like brush or if there isn't much brush they will stay in weeds.  Of course in a creek they would probably be in the deepest water in the creek most of the time.  Check with your state fisheries people or ask locally about the crappie in Sugar creek.  If there is a good population then minnows should catch them. However, the minnows you are catching may not be the best kind for the crappie try a different type.   Also you could try tiny jigs.  At times a jig tipped with a minnow hooked through the lips will catch more crappie than a jig alone or a minnow alone.

Catfish often congregate below a dam and will feed on just about anything that comes over the dam so cut sucker or most any kind of cut bait should work.  If possible cast upstream and let your bait drift downstream.  Of course sometimes there are too many things to hang on so you cannot drift on bottom.  If this is the case you might use a float or bobber set just a little above the bottom.  Don't neglect using live bait below a float.  A crawfish or small brim (sunfish# or minnow is often good for channel cats and flathead catfish.  Also don't forget the good old night crawler.  A big old gob of night crawlers or other worms is hard for any catfish to resist.  But also keep in mind that most catfish are nocturnal and bite best at night.  Also if you have a good old gulliwasher that causes the creek to flood its bank is a great time to catch channel cats.  Pick some spots before the rain and when it comes wade out to a previously marked area at the creek channel. #be careful that you know where you are wading so you do not step into a hole and drown.#
Toss your gob of worms out into the channel and let it drift down. At times like this channel cats flock up the creek to feed on all the food washed in.  Actually a small feeder creek into the main creek or lake is often best for this.  I used to fish one that at normal level of the lake was only inches deep but when the big rain came it would flood out of its bank and be six feet deep and be loaded with catfish.

When it comes to carp I am far from an expert.  I have only fished for them a few times.  Not that there is anything wrong with them. They put up a heck of a good fight and if they come from clean water and are cooked correctly they are very good eating.  Most of the carp that I have caught has been on night crawlers.  I have tried some of the dough balls but never did well with them.  Did your dad fish the same waters you are fishing?  Maybe there are not many carp where you fish or perhaps things have changed since he caught them.
Carp are not a stupid fish as many think.  They will not bite if they know you are there.  They can be very line shy and if they can see the line they will not bite.  Using too large a weight will cause them to drop the bait as soon as they feel it.  I suggest a fairly light line and sinker and a small hook. If you use the home made bait you need a special treble hook with a sort of spring on the shaft to help hold the bait.  Use a very small treble.

I hope this will help you to have better fishing.  Thank you for calling on me to answer your question.  Sorry I was so late but I have been very sick the past three days.  I am much better now.
If you have other and more specific questions give me a follow up.

I am
Jack L. Gaither     #JackfromSeminole)
Lake Seminole, Georgia