| Catching crappies through the ice can a be tough | | | | horizontal presentation while a jig such as a |
| venture at times. Here's ten crappie ice fishing tips | | | | Rembrandt would be vertical. |
| that will help put the odds in your favor. | | | | 6. Smaller minnows 1" - 1 1/2" in length |
| 1. Wintertime crappies most often relate to sharp | | | | consistently catch crappies all winter long. |
| drop offs, suspend in deep water flats, and | | | | 7. When using minnows for crappies cut the |
| submerged wood in deep water. It is not | | | | bottom off of the minnows tail with your |
| uncommon to find crappies suspended in | | | | fingernails or a fingernail cutter. This way the |
| 35′ of water if available. Because these | | | | minnow will only be able to swim down, not up |
| fish can be anywhere from five feet all the way | | | | and away from an approaching crappie. |
| to the bottom a fish finder such as a Vexilar is a | | | | 8. When using live bait along with a bobber use |
| must. | | | | enough split shot so fat part of bobber is just |
| 2. When catching a crappie remember that | | | | above the water line. This is done so the crappies |
| crappies are a schooling fish so once you catch | | | | feel as little resistance as possible when taking the |
| one, more fish are likely in the area. So take your | | | | bait. |
| time and try a few different jigs or bait and vary | | | | 9. A crappie will rarely take a bait that is not |
| the depth of your presentation if you don't have | | | | moving, whether a jig or minnow. An active |
| a flasher. | | | | minnow will cause your bobber to swim around |
| 3. Crappies rarely approach bait in a downward | | | | the hole. If the minnow is not active jig the |
| approach, meaning your better off presenting | | | | bobber a bit. If this doesn't work put on a new |
| your bait above the fish versus below. I have | | | | minnow. |
| witnessed this countless times when watching | | | | 10. I have saved the most valuable tip for last. An |
| crappies approach my jig on my Vexilar FL-8. | | | | ice fishing fish finder such as a flasher will without |
| 4. Crappies are frequently caught throughout the | | | | a doubt help you catch more crappies through the |
| entire daylight period, but the early morning and | | | | ice. Using a flasher such as a Vexilar you will be |
| twilight evening periods are consistently the best. | | | | able to locate fish faster, along with structure, and |
| 5. Try both vertical and horizontal presentations, it | | | | easily identify what the depths the fish are holding |
| can make a big difference. A jig would be a | | | | at in the water column. |