Everything That Swims: Deep Dropping for Crappies

My brother, his friend Alex, and I went crappie fishing on the Rivanna Reservoir last Saturday in a canoe loaded down with fishing stuff, cold weather gear, and snacks. We arrived at the reservoir around 11:30am, and began following the bank, casting grubs, minnow, and jigs at the bank, hoping to find a good school of crappie. After 2 hours or so of numerous bass, bluegills, and one crappie, we decided to go deep drop minnows in 20 feet of water under the bridge where we have success often in the summer .
We went to the area where the river channel runs under the bridge, 20 feet of water opposed to 12 feet on the outside of the channel. I started by dropping 1/8oz carolina rigs with small shiners on #6 long shank hooks and bringing the bait up 1-2 feet every 5 minutes without a strike, we finally discovered a decent school at 10-12 feet. We were propping the rods up on the side of the canoe, and the rod tip would barely tap 2 or 3 times, and you had to set the hook while picking the rod up or the fish would spit the bait. I was fishing 3 rods, and the bite was slow enought that it was worth it. Alex fished 2 rods, and Wyatt fished a minnow on one rod, and a 1/32oz white marabou jig, he only caught 2 or 3 crappies on the jig, and one very nice 7" warmouth. We fished untill dark around 5:30pm, catching and releasing numerous 4-7" crappies, and keeping 21 8" plus fish, along with the 7" warmouth, they all tasted great fried in cornmeal ;). Don't think we are keeping fish that shouldn't be kept, in the past 2 years, I haven't caught the first fish over 10", must be on the downside of the "crappie cycle" in the Rivanna Reservoir. Thanks for reading!