Have you thought about going crappie fishing? Have you already been crappie fishing and didn’t have much luck? Crappie are a fun, challenging, feisty fish to catch. But there are several things that will help you catch the invasive species. You do not need to go broke buying fancy lures, rods, or state of the art depth finders.
When crappie develop lock-jaw, you need to use 2 fishing rods. One with a minnow and bobber and the one rigged with a large crankbait or spinner. You can throw some extra minnows in a jar and toss it 1-3 feet deep and watch the crappie swarm, believing it is a school of minnows. When doing this, make sure you poke holes in the lid and then lower your lure/bait right next to the jar to ensure bites (and catches) because the crappie can not get to the minnows in the jar.
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Now lets give you some secrets, tips, trips, and techniques that are used in catching crappie. These are suggested by anglers, professional and not so professional. It is what they have found works the best for them, and they are willing to share. We also have lists of the top 5 items that will help you in your hunt for the crappie. Reels, rods, lures, baits, and many other items.
Here is a Crappie Fishing Resources Checklist
4 major secrets to crappie fishing
These are 4 things that top fishermen suggest some of you may not know.
- They do not feed on the bottom
- Their favorite color is pink – chartreuse lures are always recommended
- Wood, they LOVE wood – they will hide under/among wood to watch for their prey
- They do NOT vanish in the summer
Here are just a few more secrets to catching the feisty crappie
- Keep crappie nibbles on hand – it is one of the top most used lures
- Read a good crappie handbook – this will give you all the information you need
- Use a fish attractant to lure crappie – there are many scents that will attract them
- They love the higher quality lures (because they mimic live bait) – the more realistic, the better
Last, but not least, 4 additional secrets to catching crappie
- Crappie dislike the current
- Fish in 10 feet deep water, or less
- ⅛ oz jig is preferred – the perfect size for the crappie mouth
- Use knitting thread, not fishing line – will cost a lot less, for all the snags, and works just as well
Now, we are going to get into the top 5 fishing techniques (in general, for fall and for summer). We will also give you a run down of the top lures, baits, fishing line to use, and much more information that will help you on your next fishing trip.
Top 5 crappie fishing techniques (general)
These are the most recommended and suggested techniques by many fishermen, whether professional, guides, or intermediate.
- Spider Rigging
- Swim a Jig
- Drift away
- Weed-Bed slabs
- Tandem-Rigged jigs
Top 5 crappie fishing techniques/suggestions (fall)
The techniques for fall and for summer are similar and can intermingle. But the more you know about the crappie and their habitat for each season, the better off you will be.
- Know their movements
- Spot on presentation
- Remember temperature matters
- Keep moving (don’t stay in one spot if you are not catching)
- Find crappie “highway”
Top 5 crappie techniques/suggestions (spring/summer)
They say some of the best crappie fishing is in the spring/summer due to spawning season. Some fishermen agree and some may disagree
- Troll crankbaits in June
- Probe channel cover in July
- Drag offshore humps in August
- Windy weather is good
- Use tube baits if muggy
Top 5 crappie fishing lures
These lures are some of the most used by fishermen of all experiences. There are of course many others that will work just as well, but these are the most used and most recommended.
- Berkley Crappie Nibbles
- Johnson Beetle Mini Spinnerbait
- Scented Minnows Crappie Jigs
- PowerBait Power Minnows
- Bobble Garland Baby Shad
Top 5 crappie live bait choices
Live bait is always better, but if you have to choose lures/bait then make sure it is as close to the real thing as possible as far and look and the technique used to make it swim.
- Minnows
- Worms
- Shad
- Insects
- Crickets
We have covered the top techniques for catching the crappie during the fall and summer/spring seasons. The top lures and live bait to get you started have also been listed above. Some of the top 5’s in all categories are going to depend on where you are fishing, the weather, and the water conditions. Fishing is a lot of fun, and also a lot of trial and error when it comes to catching the fish, whether it be crappies, striped bass, catfish, or any other species. We are going to give you some of the top fishing poles, best states, and best lakes to find the invasive crappie. So please, read on and enjoy.
Top Rods/Reels for catching a crappie
You do not have to break the bank to catch a crappie. Here are a few recommendations on what some of the professionals and fishing guides use and recommend. If you already have a rod and reel, please do not go out and purchase anything new. What you have will work just fine, with the proper bait/lure.
- Ugly Stik Crappie Spinning Combo
- Cadence CC5 Spinning Combo Graphite Rod
- Zebco Crappie Fighter 502Ul Ts Combo
- Pflueger PRESSP President Spinning Combo
- KastKing Centron Spinning Reel Combo
Again, if you do not have what is suggested, please do not feel like you have no choice but to purchase one of the above. What you have will work great!
Top States for catching crappie
These are the top states that are pronounced to have the best crappie fishing. In the next section we will provide you with some of the top lakes that have the highest crappie population
- Florida
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
Top lakes to catch crappie
In conjunction with the above, here are the top lakes that report having the biggest crappie population in the United States. Pick an area, do your research and then book your vacation.
- Grenada Lake, Mississippi
- Lake Washington, Mississippi
- Arkabutla, Sardis and Enid Lakes, Mississippi
- Alabama River, Alabama
- Lake Fork, Texas
- Santee Cooper, South Carolina
- Kentucky Lake, Kentucky/Tennessee
Make sure to check all rules and regulations for fishing licenses and number of crappie you can catch in one day. Happy fishing!
With deeper research we have uncovered a few more ‘secrets/techniques.’ So many anglers follow the new way of doing things. The latest rods, reels, fish finders and more. There are other anglers that swear by the “old school” way of catching crappie (and other species of fish).
Goldfish
When we think of goldfish, we think of the cute orange fish that we purchase for our children as their ‘first pet.’ We teach them how to feed them and how to change their water. We watch them swim around and our kids are heartbroken when they pass. But, some anglers believe that using goldfish to catch slabs is better than using minnows. Because of their bright colors, crappie do bite them more readily and goldfish are said to live longer than minnows.
Chumming
This technique is normally associated with saltwater fishing. The idea is to sprinkle cornmeal around the boat in a good likely-looking spot, every few minutes. This will attract minnows and of course the minnows will attract the crappie. It is recommended you do this a day or two before you plan on fishing. The crappie will be eagerly awaiting your return, and ready to chomp at your bait/lure.
Egging
This is very simple and straightforward. Maybe one of the easiest ways to potentially catch crappie. Take your crushed egg shells, after you make breakfast, and put them in a plastic airtight bag. The next time you go out fishing take them with you and sprinkle them all around the boat. No one knows exactly why but some speculate that the crappie like the floating motion of the shells. Others say that the crappie think they are recently eaten scales from a bait fish. Either way, it works.
Jugging
Just like jugging for catfish, you can jug for crappie. Fishermen use old bleach bottles and monofilament fishing line. What you want to do is tie the fishing line around the neck of the bottle and suspend your minnows (or goldfish) on hooks or 1/24 – 1/32 ounce crappie jigs, placed on the line. Toss the jugs in the water so that they float across river ledges, shallow-water coves, or the mouths of creeks.
**Make sure you check the regulations where you plan on fishing to make sure that jugging is acceptable, as some places do not allow it.**
After all the thorough research, I believe we have given you the best information and secrets to go out and catch enough crappie to feed your family for a couple of great hearty meals. Everyone has their techniques, tips, tricks, secrets, and own special way of catching crappie. No two people are going to have the same idea, lures, baits, rods, or reels. Fishing for crappie is a trial and error type of sport. You will do best if you know the ins and out of crappie habitat in the particular location that you like to fish. It is fairly similar across the board, but there are a few differences between lakes. One thing that remains constant is that they are best caught during spawning season or at dusk and dawn when they come to the surface to feed.
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