| Many anglers start packing up their rods and reels | | | | are preparing for the long winter months ahead |
| and begin storing them away in the fall. This is a | | | | they will be searching for this food source. |
| shame because crappie fishing can be just as | | | | When using artificial lures it is suggested that you |
| productive in the fall as it is in the spring. | | | | stay under three inches in length. In most areas a |
| In fact, it can even be more fun and productive | | | | one or two inch artificial minnow would work the |
| because there are fewer people out on the lakes | | | | best. You can also catch crappie with worms and |
| and rivers making noise and scaring off the | | | | crayfish. If you do use live bait make sure you |
| crappie. This means fewer distractions, less | | | | keep it in a cooler and try to keep them as lively |
| competition and better results for each fishing trip. | | | | as possible for the best results. |
| One thing that discourages anglers from fishing | | | | You can catch crappie anytime during the day or |
| for crappie in the fall is the fact that they are | | | | night but the most productive times are usually at |
| more scattered out during this time of year than | | | | night. This is because the fish feed more |
| at any other time. This makes them a little harder | | | | aggressively during the late evening to early |
| to find. They are also more unpredictable so you | | | | morning hours. Using an artificial light to draw the |
| may have to work a little harder but this just | | | | crappie to your position is a great technique used |
| makes it more of a challenge and more rewarding. | | | | for night fishing. |
| In the fall the water temperature eventually | | | | The light attracts insects and bait fish that will in |
| becomes the same at all depths and the oxygen | | | | turn attract the crappie and draw them in your |
| levels are higher so the crappie could be at any | | | | direction. |
| depth at any given time. This makes finding the | | | | If you are fishing in an area where the visibility is |
| crappie the hardest thing for the crappie | | | | low you can receive the best results with lures |
| fisherman to do. | | | | that make sound. These will cause vibrations in |
| However, don't let this discourage you. With a | | | | the water that will attract the crappie or you can |
| few fall crappie fishing techniques you can | | | | use something with a strong odor. |
| increase the number of crappie that you reel in | | | | When fishing in clear water crappie plugs, small |
| during any fishing trip. | | | | jigs, bladebaits and spoons work very well. As a |
| Techniques for Fall Crappie Fishing | | | | general rule jigs and minnows are normally the |
| Fall crappie fishing techniques include a variety of | | | | best to use. Sometimes combining these two |
| things such as knowing what types of baits work | | | | together will attract the crappie much faster than |
| the best. Everyone will agree that crappies are | | | | using them alone, especially in the fall. |
| most attracted to minnows. In the fall when they | | | | |