subject: Crappie Tips And Secrets [print this page] Despite the name, Crappie fish are delicious and enjoyable to capture. Yet, if you haven't ever learned how to catch them, do you know some Crappie tips?
Some of these beginner Crappie tips can be used to develop an adventurous path into catching Crappie!
*Choose action fishing poles that are light in weight. There's no need to break your bank purchasing pricey rod/reel sets. Cane poles could even work very well. A Zebco 404, or similar device, is an example of a top notch rod and reel combination. When you want to catch Crappie, you shouldn't purchase a pole with medium to heavy action. These rods can mask the sensation of a bite.
*You shouldn't spend too much buying your tackle. To reel in Crappie, the only things you'll need are light-weight line, (a 4-8 lbs. mono filament line is recommended), a few #2 hooks (Eagle Claw's gold hooks with wire braid), along with several sinkers of light weight, as well as corks. While you're at it, consider buying some Crappie jigs. Most sporting goods stores carry jig sets with multiple head weights for under $10.
*Figure out where you're going to do your fishing. It's not very hard to catch crappie by fishing in creeks, rivers, ponds or lakes. Spring and fall are the best times to catch Crappie from the bank of a large lake. Seek cover where the crappies are probably going to be hiding. You'll often find them under logs and among brush.
*Using live minnow bait is generally ideal for catching crappie fish. Most every bait shop sells these. Starting 18 inches below a cork, use a #2 hook to tie off the bottom of your line. Different depths will provide different results, so feel free to experiment. It might be necessary to move the cork down a full yard or so beneath the cork. You will find the right spot if you have a variety of poles that you can fish with at varying depths.
*When utilizing jigs, begin with jig heads which are one eighth of an ounce. I recommend starting with chartreuse, as it is a highly dominant color when Crappie fishing. Let your jig down near a tree stump or fallen log, allowing it to descend all the way down. Take it back up, then drop in once more at a different place close to cover. Remember to go back and drop the jig in the prior place at least one more time before giving up.
*When fishing from a boat or pier, attach a small weight to the underside, and fasten a loop knot 8-12 inches prior to the weight, then add a #2 hook to the loop. Secure a hook beneath the dorsal fin of your minnow, then let the line descend to around the halfway point. You will only drop halfway down at first because almost all Crappie will suspend. Drop to 3/4 down if you don't feel any Crappie bites on the line.
After you figure out the right method, it isn't that hard to land Crappie. Yet, like with other things, the more you try, the better you get. Go out today and start hunting for yourself using these Crappie tips!
