| Whether you are new to Crappie fishing, or an | | | | they do not disappear, they just change the |
| avid fisherman, it never hurts to other | | | | area in which they frequent. One day the |
| opinions and tips from both professional and | | | | crappie may be found in shallow water around |
| amateur fisherman alike. Some fisherman have | | | | submerged weeds, and may be schooling in 30 |
| a habit of finding one certain style of | | | | foot open waters the next. The trick is |
| fishing, and sticking to it. While doing what | | | | attracting the more illusive Crappie to your |
| makes you most comfortable may allow you to | | | | bait. This can be accomplished several ways. |
| fish without any surprises, many times that | | | | |
| style of fishing may now work in all | | | | 1) Fish slower. Give the Crappie more time to |
| situations and conditions. By trying | | | | see the bait. |
| different things, you may find that you | | | | |
| increase your catch. | | | | 2) Use bright colored baits. Orange |
| | | | chartreuse, yellow/chartreuse, and green |
| Fishing for Crappie in Winter | | | | chartreuse Crappie Pro jig bodies are |
| | | | favorites among professional fisherman. |
| During the winter, water temperatures can | | | | |
| drop below 40 degrees. When the water is this | | | | 3) If you are using artificial bait, use bait |
| cold, look for schooling crappie in deeper | | | | scents. tip out jigs with a piece of minnow |
| areas from 18 to 30 feet. Most areas water | | | | or Berkley Crappie Nibbles. |
| stay below this temperature from late | | | | |
| November to early march. Concentrate on sharp | | | | 4) Allow for more bait movement. While moving |
| bends or points and work both directions with | | | | the bait requires more time and energy, it |
| a slow presentation until you find the right | | | | attracts the Crappie by giving the illusion |
| depth and color combination. Professional | | | | of live bait. |
| fisherman prefer to start with darker colors | | | | |
| of red, green, or orange in combinations with | | | | Fishing for Crappie in Spring |
| yellow or chartreuse tails. Pre-tie your rigs | | | | |
| and setup. By having the rigs already tied we | | | | Fishing for Crappie during the spring may be |
| can spend more time fishing, and much less | | | | the easiest, because most Crappie are |
| time changing baits. It also beats attempting | | | | spawning during this time. The male Black |
| to tie new bait on when the temperature is | | | | Crappie construct a large nest by fanning out |
| low and your fingers are numb. | | | | small depressions around the bottom of brush, |
| | | | various vegetation, rocks, or submerged |
| Fishing for Crappie in Fall | | | | boulders, in water anywhere from 1 to 5 feet |
| | | | deep. The female Black Crappie then come in |
| Fall is literally the hardest time to fish | | | | and lay eggs in the nest. Concentrate on |
| for Crappie. During the fall, crappie may | | | | these types of areas, and keep an open mind. |
| seem to disappear completely. The truth is | | | | |