| Many people wrongly think the only time you can | | | | If the fish are holding over a deep water break, I |
| catch a Crappie is during the spawn. Your dead | | | | may go as light as a 6 foot graphite rod and 4lb |
| wrong if you think that. I make a living catching | | | | test line. But beware! There are big bass and |
| crappie year round. While they may be the | | | | catfish lurking below! |
| easiest to catch during the Spring spawn, they | | | | If the water is a little murky or muddy, I like |
| can also be caught at other times of the year. | | | | using a combination of bright and dark jigs. Like a |
| Sometimes better than during the Spring spawn. | | | | two toned lure with a blaze orange head and |
| It's called Crappie fishing, not Crappie catching! | | | | black or brown body. Sometimes I'll also add |
| The problem is that many fisherman think of only | | | | some sound to my baits by using a spinner blade |
| in terms of Spring fishing. Crappie are much like | | | | or shot. Don't get to loud with your sound, |
| any other schooling fish and many of the same | | | | Crappie are spooky fish. |
| tactics that work on Bass, Walleye and White | | | | During early Summer mornings, I use a spider rig |
| Bass work when Crappie fishing. | | | | to find Crappie that aren't schooled up. Once the |
| These fishing tips are here to help you extend | | | | Sun get's up and the heat turns on, I use my fish |
| your fishing season to the point you can catch | | | | locator to find schools of Crappie along deep |
| fish year round. | | | | water channels or over suspended timber. |
| My favorite times other than the spawn are the | | | | Another good tactic to find scattered fish is |
| Fall and Winter months. Sometimes if the day | | | | suspending a jig from a slip float rig. Set out |
| heats up after a morning duck hunt, I'll head out | | | | several rods, I like to use 6 or more, and drift |
| into the lake and find a school of Crappie hanging | | | | along the lake until you start picking up fish. |
| above a submerged creek bank or over | | | | Catchng these tasty fish isn't hard. You just have |
| submerged timber. | | | | to change tactics and get out of spawn mode. |
| Most times of the year, I'll find the fish out in the | | | | Just remember, Crappie have to eat year round. |
| lake in 12 to 18 feet of water. I have caught | | | | You just need to be there when they get hungry |
| them as deep as 25 feet during really cold or | | | | and give them what they want to eat! |
| really hot spells. But day in and day out, 8 to 18 | | | | Year round Crappie fishing can be a blast. |
| feet is where I'll find Crappie. | | | | Challenging at times, yes. Is it worth it? When |
| When I'm after deep water fish holding over | | | | there's ice on the window sill and sleet is pelting |
| structure, I'll use a 6 lb test line on a 7 foot light | | | | the window and you're sitting at the Kitchen table |
| action spinning rod. This can have some obvious | | | | downing some fresh caught golden brown |
| drawbacks if you hook into a big Striper or | | | | filets...yeah it's worth it! |
| Catfish. Been there, done that! | | | | |