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