| Crappie may be one of the most abundant fishes in | | | | deal of accuracy and can avoid snagging the line. You |
| the United States, residing in the greatest number of | | | | should cast beyond the point where you feel the |
| lakes and rivers, but this doesn't mean they are the | | | | crappie will be best caught and let your lure sink to the |
| easiest to catch. In fact, crappie can be quite elusive. | | | | level you want, then begin a slow swim through the |
| That's why it's important to try different crappie fishing | | | | cover area. Keep in mind that a 1/16 ounce jig will sink |
| tactics to reel in the most fish in the most effective | | | | at approximately one foot per second, so you want to |
| manner. Here are some tips to get you started so that | | | | count down to the level just above any stakes sticking |
| you can make the most of your next fishing trip. | | | | up from the bottom (the cover), where the crappie are |
| Crappie fishing tactics vary depending on the time of | | | | baited but your line doesn't get stuck in the cover. |
| year, the depth of the crappie, and the area of the | | | | Trolling can be one of the most effective crappie |
| lake in which you'll find your best catch. One of the | | | | fishing tactics as well. Trolling slowly with an electric |
| crappie fishing tactics that works best when crappie | | | | motor or drifting can be a great way to find elusive |
| are deep enough (at least 8-15 feet) is vertical fishing. | | | | crappie in open water. Try spider fishing using several |
| At this range, they are more tolerant of a boat directly | | | | rods over all sides of the boat so that you are more |
| overhead, and you can drop jigs and slip-bobber rigs | | | | liking to get a bite. Some anglers using this method will |
| down the side of the boat. One of the most efficient | | | | set out over a dozen rods, trolling at different depths, in |
| vertical methods is to use a bottom-bumping rig. | | | | their attempt to find a school of crappie. Also, keep in |
| Another one of many proven crappie fishing tactics is | | | | mind that using fiberglass rods instead of graphite will |
| casting into shallows, much like bass fishing. Crappie | | | | make your life easier in this pursuit the fiberglass rods |
| prefer to remain in cover, so you'll want to swim tiny | | | | are more limber and will respond with a deeper, slower |
| jigs, spinners, and crank baits in shallow cover along | | | | bend when crappie is caught in a jig. |
| the shores or in submerged cover, if you have a good | | | | |