Crappie Fishing

[Creekcrappie]

Who else likes crappie fishing? I love it. I went out this morning at 5:30 for for hours and I got 9 keepers and 20 non keepers. I think I will bring some of my bass stuff tomorrow. 

[dave]

We start fishing in April for spawners.  Spider rig from a boat.  10- 16' cane poles.  No reels,  big shiners.  Great fun.

[Stlbob]

LOVE crappie,we have both kinds here.

[Missourifishin]

I love crappie. But I must be doing something wrong. I thought about starting a topic here about it. I can catch bass, bluegill, catfish.... But I suck at crappie fishing for some reason.

[msk]

I love crappie. But I must be doing something wrong. I thought about starting a topic here about it. I can catch bass, bluegill, catfish.... But I suck at crappie fishing for some reason.

that's strange. You can typically catch crappie using minnows under a bobber. Or I like to fish them on small jig heads tips with Lake Fork baby shad. I have also caught large crappie on spinnerbaits while fishing for bass. I usually look for them where there is vegetation.

[Missourifishin]

that's strange. You can typically catch crappie using minnows under a bobber. Or I like to fish them on small jig heads tips with Lake Fork baby shad. I have also caught large crappie on spinnerbaits while fishing for bass. I usually look for them where there is vegetation.

I've only tried minnows under a bobber a couple of times. Usually if I'm bobber fishing, I'm just using nightcrawlers to try to catch bluegill. I'm definitely planning to give minnows a few more tries this year. I'll keep at it, I probably just need to find the right spots.

[Creekcrappie]

I had the same problem for some reason. Wait until the fish come up shallow and use crappie magnets or bobby garlands on a 1/16 ounce jig head. Find the depth they want wear them out. Or if you prefer use minnows and slip bobbers.

[Missourifishin]

Thanks for the tips guys

[Nicky Greece]

  When I was a kid, a friend of mines step dad use to take us out around midnight.  He would anchor his pontoon and hang a couple of lanterns over the side.  We would catch them all night long on minnows.

[KritterGitter]

We start fishing in April for spawners.  Spider rig from a boat.  10- 16' cane poles.  No reels,  big shiners.  Great fun.

Ok you seem versed in crappie fishing, anyone else with input feel free to chime in. Question is, I was at BPS at saw these ridiculous looking rods, super long and thin, with tiny little reels on them. All were designated as crappie rods? Why?

[dave]

We fish with 13' and 16' cane poles. (fiberglass telescopic)  the length of the rods are for reach.  There it no casting.  Even if you watch some videos of crappie fisherman with the long rods with reels,  there is no real casting.  The rods are out on a spread and resemble a spider on the water,  hence, "spider rig".  Reach out and cover water.  

[Ratherbfishing]

If one isn't using a spider rig, the long rods are for reaching into and around cover such as standing timber, etc.  A small reel is used because they are light and and line capacity isn't critical.  Personally, I prefer reels with larger diameter spools so the line doesn't kink up as much.

[KritterGitter]

Ohhhhh....Makes sense, I did some googling on them also and found relatively the same answers yinz provided. Always something new to learn. Thanks

[Bluebasser86]

If I catch a crappie it's usually an accident. Very little fight and I don't eat them so not much point to fishing for them. Only exception is if they're biting well and the person I'm fishing with wants to keep some or nothing else is biting. When I do fish for them I usually fish a 2 or 3 inch power minnow on a 1/16-1/8 ounce jighead.