David,
We have used baled hay from the pasture, which easy to handle. We have used a roll of hay, which is much larger, where we could roll it in from the bank. Any type of hay will work. We have used coastal plain pasture hay, peanut hay, bermuda hay. Typically we sink it in 3-4 foot of water. The smaller square bales we tied cement blocks to sink them. If you can roll a large heavy roll of hay from the bank it might sink on its own. One year we put out 4 squares of baled hay and also sank 3 cedar trees upright.I'm guessing we caught about 1,200 hundred crappie in a months time. feet. Put the hay out now. Depending on where you live will determine when crappie start to spawn. Even if its a month from now it won't hurt to go ahead and put out the hay. Minnows and crawfish love the hay. When the crappie start to spawn they will congregate in large numbers and swim continuously around the hay. We have always been close to a bank or dock when doing this. In creeks, rivers, and large lakes they seem to like inlets or remote areas. Depth is important. Crappie here tend to spawn in 3-4 feet of water. I have changed the depth of my bait or lure when fish were biting slow, either up or down 10-12 inches, and began catching fish every cast. I took a guy crappie fishing one time and I caught 25 before he got a bite. I was fishing a foot shallower than he was. For all you guys out there with small ponds full of crappie this is a great way to get a lot of them out. I lived in Dallas, Tx. for 13 years. March was always the best month in that area. Here in south georgia Feb. and early March usually. It has been a cold winter the timing could be delayed a little this year.
Welcome and good luck.
