Crappie fishing may appear simple, but it is rather tricky. These secretive fish are both challenging to track down and a lot of fun to capture. It’s species with a mild strike that nonetheless puts up a good fight.
Its strike is so gentle that it could get hooked before you realize it. One that weighs more than a pound is quite rare. It puts up a brave battle on light fishing tackle, although it is not a particularly tough opponent.
While capturing a few slab crappies is enjoyable, capturing enough for a fish fry necessitates quantity. Catching that many crappies in one day require skill and endurance. Worry nor, for we will give you some of the best crappie fishing advice.
Facts about Crappies
Crappies are divided into two types: black Crappie and White crappies. Most anglers are unaware of the difference. These species are likely to be caught in the exact location beside each other. How can you identify the difference between the two? Color variation in black and white crappies can be influenced by their location, age, and the colors of the regional breeding population.
White crappies are often paler in color than black crappies. Black crappies are more black and gold in some waters. Although the white Crappie’s body is slightly longer than the black Crappie’s, its total size and mass ranges are relatively comparable.
Crappies range in size from 4 to 11 inches in length, while larger specimens of up to 15 inches are not uncommon. They are native to North America, but they are now found in a variety of nations globally. Crappie angling is best done in warmer waters, such as huge lakes and slow-moving rivers and lakes and streams with clear water and features like bushes or submerged trees.
Best location to fish for Crappie
Finding a decent area to catch Crappie is not challenging; they are either everywhere or nowhere to be found. Rivers, lakes, and streams with clear water are the most incredible places to look for crappies. Crappies are a type of freshwater fish found in a variety of rivers and lakes across the U.S.
Crappies prefer to hide in the shade, so look for them amid the brush, sunken trees, or other garbage heaps. Here is a tactic for catching Crappie: You can create a welcoming environment for Crappie to feel secure to entice them to a specific lake area. Giant twigs and sticks should be placed in a particular location of the lake and then sink to the base. The Crappie will most certainly be closed the next time you visit.
Crappies congregate around artificial structures such as piers and docks if there are no native habitats on the sea. Crappie fishing is excellent in these areas.
Clearwater should be sought. Crappies often have a hard time seeing the bait when the water is dirty. Crappies eat by vision rather than scent, so they may never nibble if the water is too muddy. Use a flashy lure at a spot where the water is more transparent.
See also: How to catch Walleye
Best season to fish
Across the year, you can find the main crappie fishing spots. However, winter is the ideal moment to go crappie fishing.
Winter
When the temperature drops in the winter, the Crappie prefers to remain in deeper water, the most excellent spots to look for are around the lake’s core, where the water is the deepest. Crappies take slower to strike due to the cold, so you will have to wait longer to capture one.
Spring
It is possible that you will not catch the giant crappies in the spring, but it will be likely to capture them. As already said, rivers, lake coastlines, and streams with clear water are some of the most incredible places to find crappies, and they prefer to linger around in sheltered areas. As a result, look for them amongst the brush, downed trees, and other trash piles. Closer to the coast, fish among vegetation and wooden structures.
Summer
Crappies go to deeper, colder water between 8 and 25 feet deep to evade the summer heat. A solid experimentation approach, on the other hand, is a suitable method. You can use jigging for summer crappie angling since you can adjust the level of our bait or lure to catch Crappie. You can capture a lot after you figure out how low they are.
Fall
Finally, there is fall crappie fishing, which is when crappies are most consistent and active. Fall crappie catching is best done near docks, where they can be captured towards the top of the water columns. During this time of year, casting is preferred. Allow the jig to sink before slowly recovering. On warmer fall days, crappies will also travel into shallow water, where they can be caught in the bush.
Best baits and lures to catch crappies
Crappies are not famed for being picky eaters. They will consume practically everything they can accommodate in their mouths and frequently stuff they cannot, as they infiltrate the shallows to spawn or protect their nests. Crappies can be caught on gigantic, pike-caliber spinnerbaits with a profile as long as the Crappie is attempting to eat it. Lures and baits with a diameter of two to four inches are far more practicable.
Crappie fishing does not necessitate pricey gear. Almost any light fishing apparatus can be used to catch this fish. Choose a simple rod and reels if desired. The majority of crappie anglers use the uncomplicated rod, and it is remarkably efficient. You can utilize a low-cost rod or a high-cost fiber or graphite rod. Both of them are crappie catchers. Crappie angling is best done with lightweight poles.
Crappie fishing is most commonly done using jigs. There are a plethora of shades and designs to choose from. The ideal jig for you is the one in which you gain the most trust. Try a few different kinds, and you will probably find that one of them quickly becomes your favorite. Crappies hunt for food by sight rather than scent, so they may never bite if the water is too dirty. As a result, using flashy jigs is more efficient.
If you plan on doing more surface fishing, you should invest in some spinners. These can offer extra brightness and intensity to stained or muddy water, attracting crappies. And, as always, angling is not an exact science, so you should bring along a small assortment of different tiny lures to utilize when jigs are not working.
Best Crappie fishing tips
Marabou jigs around submerged trees and stumps, especially in bad weather
Crappie is drawn to shelter and enjoys vertical structure. Stumps and hollow trunks are among their preferred places to school, and any savvy crappie fisher will not pass up an opportunity to explore this type of environment.
Use the correct fishing knot.
If you are angling for Crappie using a jig, a loop knot is a way to go. When the jig is cast, this style of the fishing knot will let it roam freely. Furthermore, when executed vertically to the fish, it offers Crappie a slight motion that is quite attractive.
Maintain a tight line
The delicate mouth of Crappie is well-known. This implies that if the line is not kept firm properly, they can effortlessly tear and jiggle your hook. On the other hand, Crappie will put up an intense struggle, so having your line tight should not be a problem.
Fish at the proper depth
Crappie is typically found in three to six feet of water. During the summer, crappies will migrate deeper into the water, only coming to the top to eat at dawn and dusk.
Be patient
If you fish slowly and steadily with your jig and minnow, Crappie will offer you more activity. It is best not to retrieve your cast too rapidly. Hold back if you are not receiving any bites and you believe crappies are in the vicinity.
Best techniques for Catching Crappie
Crappies are drawn to wooden covers at all times of the year. A decent rule of thumb is to fish low in the spring and fall and deeper in the summer and winter.
Casting and jigging are the most remarkable techniques for crappie fishing since you may adjust the depth of your bait or lure to locate crappies.
Casting
Casting is best done in the spring and fall. You might have to steer away from the brush and cast while fishing in shallow brush or very clear blue water. Toss the bait through the brush and let it drop in a tight line to the floor. Slowly recover till it makes contact with the brush. Allow the lure to drop in again; when you detect it, go over a twig.
Jigging
This strategy should be used more throughout the winter and summer seasons, as you will need to look at deeper areas. Drop the bait into the brush until it reaches the floor to capture crappies by jigging. Then gently reel up till a nip is felt. Keep track of how deep you get a bite and concentrate your efforts on fishing at that depth.
Using a tiny jigging spoon is an effective way. Move up and down your jig vertically in a deep brush. Crappie will frequently strike the spoon as it flutters.
Conclusion
Nothing like a day spent hunting crappies on the water. To create the most of your moment with a rod in your hand, investigate what is amiss, rectify it, and get back in the game as soon as possible.
You can capture crappies on practically any fishing trip if you have light fishing gear, a thorough understanding of crappie behaviors, and perhaps a little luck. Crappies, as we all know, move about depending on the temperature and weather. The ideal thing is to be aware of the best fishing projections to determine where you should go to catch as many fish as feasible.