how to catch crappie

[lenny]

I have never fished for crappie before and am looking for advise, bait, how deep, bobber? rigs?

 

[snobuilder]

are you kidding?

 

[mrsrunningbear]

isn't this double posting? You must want some crappies...LOL I had a better answer in the fishing thread...but hook, sinker, minnow and someone to show you the spots...

 

[thunderstruck88]

hey I think me and BIGFOOT got the answer to this get yourself a bamboo pole and a safety pin and a clothes pin to put the safety pin on then you got to get yourself a fat maggot and place upon such saftey pin also the pole and the clothes pin has to be put together with a shoe string . then you put an empty beer can of your choice on the middle of the shoe string and use that to see if your crappie comes on the saftey pin then you got to get you a colendar and pull your fish out of the water hope that helps lol sorry I am in a silly mood and can't help myself Good Luck and happy fishing

 

[chords]

Most important is to fish a crappy lake !

 

[wilson]

how to catch crappie...

...stay out too late, come home intoxicated, don't get my chores done...i catch alot of crappie...from the wife

 

[samc]

...stay out too late, come home intoxicated, don't get my chores done...i catch alot of crappie...from the wife

LMAO - very true

 

[lenny]

I know it sounds stupid but I am always after small mouth, walley and n pike. I guess I am wrong saying I have never fished for them, I suppose I have for a few mins. I threw a white tube gig out with a bobber close to shore and got a feew perch and a rock bass, cought a huge crappie with a m-79 while fishing for pike. Maybe I'll just stick to the larger fish, they look like a pain to clean being so small. Now these are a blast to bring in!

 

[ubee]

Make a noise like a Worm !! works every time!!

 

[russholio]

I suppose it depends on where you're fishing, but I always had decent luck with minnows (usually under a bobber) or a small beetle spin (or something similar). Purple worked best where I was at. A word of caution on that one, though -- other critters like them as well. I once caught a 26" pike (not all that big, I know) on an ultralight spinning rod with 2 lb. test while fishing for crappie.

 

[snobuilder]

we just got back testerday and this time of year we found the crappy in about 4-6 " of water biting on waxies as well as the minnow.

When we go up in early July, they are in 12-15 feet of water along weed lines. Either way fish a foot or 2 off the bottom.

I like the the curved hooks with the larger openning with a small colored head.

 

[jerkbait_1075]

I actually just got back from a trip to northern wiscosin for a yearly ritual of crappies and smallies. The key to crappie at least on this large 800+ acre lake that I fish is to be mobile and mobile in technique also. During our 6 days of fishing we caught crappie anywhere from 3-20 ft. of water. Crappies are mobile fish by nature especially at this point of the year and all. Right now most fish will be coming off the spawn. However just a week or two back one could find fish in all different stages of the spawn, pre, post and transition all on one same body of water. Even once crappies spawn they dont go into any one set pattern for the remainder of the open water fishing season. Many people believe this. I once did myself. Once I began "searching" for crappies my success has increased UNBELIEVABLY. I too once assumed that just because it was July and 95 degress and a water temp of 79 degrees that crappies would be suspended over deeper water flats. While this will be the case on many a day I cant tell you how many times after not having luck over the deeper flat instead of assuming that they "just weren't biting that day", moving into the shallows wether mud flats or structure areas has proven to be really successful. Time of day also plays out to be an unpredictable factor and not always in the ways the pro's profess. For example last week while fishing I locted crappie on a shallow underwater structure one morning in 6 ft. of water. Fishing was tremendous and a limit for the day was taken in short time. The very next morning I returned to this spot and found only two crappie for the taking. What changed, nothing. Water temp, weather condition, phase of the spawn all consitent from the day before. Rather than assuming that they just weren't biting. I decided to move off the shallows, past the breakline and check a deeper water hole in 20 ft. of water. Now remember its 8 a.m. Most crappie literature would suggest that early mornings the fish would be shallow and near structure. After anchoring up on this deeper water hole I began to catch fish, one after another as fast as I could. What happened, You tell me???? The point is dont get locked into any one mind set. I think that this is the biggest mistake most fishermen make. Its what I call the "they just weren't biting" excuse. However what they are forgetting is that "they just werent biting where you were at the time". I do not profess to be an expert by any means, I can only offer that mobility and searching for fish has proven to be succesful for me. As far as techiques. Crappies will be taken on any thing from live bait minnows, waxies and crawlers to jigs of varying weight worked at varying speed. The one method that I like is the slip bobber. Slip bobber rigging keeps you mobile and allows you to work deeper or shallow water without much time changing your rigging.

Good fishing, tight lines and take a kid fishing when ever you have a chance. It will be one of the greatest experiences of your life!!!!

 

[anonomoose]

I know it sounds stupid but I am always after small mouth, walley and n pike. I guess I am wrong saying I have never fished for them, I suppose I have for a few mins. I threw a white tube gig out with a bobber close to shore and got a feew perch and a rock bass, cought a huge crappie with a m-79 while fishing for pike. Maybe I'll just stick to the larger fish, they look like a pain to clean being so small. Now these are a blast to bring in!

Okay Lenny...who the heck is small mouth walley?? Your brother-in-law, fellow angler, and why you makin fun of him like that?

Also is an M-79 more selective than an M-80, and isn't it against the law to blow up fish in the lake?

No wonder your having trouble finding crappie....they are gett'n blown to bits.

 

[anonomoose]

Actually you can catch crappie pretty steadily (or as steady as fishing can be) by using lead headed jigs and curley tail worms, in white early season and then yellow later on...

When I was a kid, I used to catch them by the truck load (he-he he...I exaggerate just a bit...dats what fisher people do, don't yah know....) by using a fly rod and a white feathered popper.

In clear water you could see them rise up and suck the popper in...it was all about the white color for some reason...and once they took the bait, you could have a real nice time pulling those slab sided fish in.

Course you can do this with bluegills and pumpkinseeds too. Both, btw are very good eating (they don't stink up your hands cleaning them either.)

 

[snow_monkey]

x'2 4 to 6 feet of water is best. Snobuilder nailed it. We make it a habit to spill a little beer in the water for good luck and a fresh tin of chew.

 

[yamahauler]

has anyone tried the red hooks in the summer? They work well in winter for whatever reason, just wondering if they work well in the summer.

 

[mrsrunningbear]

has anyone tried the red hooks in the summer? They work well in winter for whatever reason, just wondering if they work well in the summer.

yup thats what we use for both crappies and walleye in the spring and summer, love them

 

[revman]

If you are on a lake where you can troll, I use Charlie Brewer Sliders. Google them. They are a little different than most "twister tails." I put a split shot about 10 inches above it and troll about 1.5 mph. I've found it the best way to catch them. Fun too!

 

[jerkbait_1075]

Just like Revman said I too must second the SLIDER Jigs. They are the best and only jigs that I use. I buy mine in Tomahawk WI.

FISH ON!!!!

 

[qber]

In the shallows (5-8ft) near weeds using worms or corn kernels (from canned corn).