Tips for Crappie Fishing

Finding good tips for crappie fishing is a bit of a crap shoot. Not everything you read is going to work in the real world. Crappie fishing is very much a unique experience to each fisherman, and what works for one may not work for another. The reason for this is because crappie can be maddeningly smart and resourceful. In spite of the crappie and their legendary smarts, here are some tips for crappie fishing that should be rather universal and easy:

Crappie are absolutely at their peak during the spring before they begin spawning. During this wonderful fishing time, crappie are likely to bite at most any bait and do so with vigor. Some say it is because they are hyped up about the spawning season.

You should generally fish in 3 to 6 feet of water when fishing for crappie. The exception to this is during the hottest part of summer. During this time of year, crappie often go to the deep areas and linger around the surface in the evenings and mornings.

One of the best tips for crappie fishing is to use a small bobber and a live minnow on a #6 hook. This combination works well and will draw the attention of most any sized crappie. It is certainly the best option when trying to land the larger crappie.

Of all the tips for crappie fishing you could learn, slow and steady is the most important one. Do not run your jig, minnow or bait through the water fast. Go slow and you are much more likely to catch the crappie.

Finally, keep in mind that a crappie has a soft lip and will tear easily when hooked. For this reason you need to keep your line tight all the way to shore. Crappie will fight hard, so this should not be overly difficult.