Here we will discuss tactics to help you catch crappie all day long. Don’t let the size of this fish fool you, they are a blast to catch. They are highly desirable by many due to their great taste and ease of targeting. Crappie are by no means the biggest fish out there, nor will they provide you with a long intense battle when reeling them in. They are usually really easy to catch, and once you find one there are always many other around. The best part is you don’t need to be an experienced fisherman, nor do you need expensive gear to go for crappie.
Whether you’re a crappie fishing fanatic or new to the sport, we’d like to help you catch more crappie, more often. To help, we’ve compiled a list of crappie fishing tips and techniques. Fished correctly, these tips and “lucky seven” techniques will deliver the monsters you’ve been waiting for! There’s only one question to ask. […]
Jigs are perhaps the most versatile weapon in a crappie angler’s arsenal. From casting to tightlining, trolling to slip floating, they can be used in a variety of situations with a range of techniques that are virtually unrivaled. In fact, if I were to choose only one lure option for crappie, it would probably be […]
If you’re anything like us, slab hunting can keep you up at night, and at the very least, the prospect of hitting the water the next day before dawn can make your sleep a tad restless! Here, we’d like to take a look at one specific aspect of sac-a-lait fishing, answering the question, “What’s the […]
If you live south of the Mason-Dixon line, it’s tempting to surrender your crappie tackle for rifles and shotguns in the late fall, turning to hunting rather than fishing for your outdoor fix. Unlike anglers in places like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine, you can’t enjoy ice fishing, and the crappie bite on open water is […]
Night fishing is one the most productive methods for filling a livewell with crappie. The story goes like this: Put out a lot of light, which will attract bugs, and in turn, the bugs attract minnows or other small forage fish, which attract the crappie. And, it pretty much works that way, so long as […]
As the water warms and the days grow longer, crappie move to the shallows to spawn, giving anglers a perfect opportunity to catch these speckled devils. In fact, spring is prime slab season, and if you’re crappie savvy, it’s perhaps one of the most exciting times to fish all year long. Whether you’re new to […]
There’s no soft bait, no jig, and no spinner more attractive to crappie than a live minnow. That’s a simple fact that any experienced angler can tell you. Indeed, it’s often the case that they’ll take a minnow even when they just won’t hit anything you can pull from your tackle box. That’s why, for […]
Whether you call them crappie, sac-a-lait, papermouths, or silver perch, one thing’s for sure: the excitement of dropping dozens of these bad boys into a cooler is hard to beat. And as any crappie fanatic can attest, they’re more than just fun to catch--they make a fine meal, too! That makes it easy to understand […]
Not every angler owns a boat, and if you’re planning on fishing from shore this spring, don’t be discouraged. As the water warms and the days lengthen, there’s no better time to try for crappie with your feet planted firmly on the ground. In fact, think of spring as the season when the fish come […]
As the spring spawn gives way to the summer heat, crappie will leave the shallows and look for deeper, cooler water. Still active, and still feeding, summer slabs will disperse over a wide area, making this season tough on papermouth anglers. Where legal, spider rigging is the most effective technique for trolling diffuse crappie on […]
If you ask any crappie fanatic what these voracious fish eat, you’re likely to hear “Whatever I’m throwing!” There’s some truth to that, too, as crappie aren’t known to be particular about what they consume. But the more you know about their natural prey, the better you can choose lures and live bait to catch […]
Crappie isn’t just fun to catch, it’s one of the best tasting fish you’ll ever feel on a hook. Offering fine, almost crab-like flesh, it’s a fantastic addition of flavor to the table and a great source of protein and healthy fats. We love to cook crappie. From frying to roasting, grilling to smoking, We’ve […]
Crappie are pretty easy to catch, but the summer heat can test even the best anglers’ patience with papermouths. And as every slab addict knows, high summer separates the real pros from the casual crappie chasers. But the dog days of summer don’t need to mean the end of crappie season--if you know where to […]
As the weather becomes crisp and the days short, many crappie anglers decide to call it quits until the hard water season begins. And there’s no question that fall crappie fishing can be a frustrating challenge. But before you pack in your tackle and wait for winter, perhaps you should rethink your approach to cool […]
Call them what you like: papermouths, sac-a-lait, slabs, or crappie--they’re just plain fun to catch! And as crappie fanatics can attest, a good crappie rig is just what you need, whether you prefer trolling deep water with a boat full of rods or casting near the vertical cover they’re known to love. If you need […]
Pretty much everywhere you find crappie, you’ll find an equally healthy population of bluegill. But while both of these species are as fun to catch as they are delicious to eat, anglers new to the panfish game may be confused about which is which. If you’re not sure how to tell the difference between crappie […]
Can you eat crappie? The quick answer is Yes! Papermouths, slabs, silver perch, speckled bass: crappie go by many names. And while biologists refer to the two species of this fish as Pomoxis annularis and Pomoxis nigromaculatus, everyone can agree to call them delicious. Crappie are a fast-growing freshwater fish common to North America, and […]
Most anglers know that the spawning season for crappie is a prime time to catch them. As warming temperatures break winter’s torpor, you’ll find that the fish are hungry after a long fast and looking to pack on weight for breeding. That’s as true for any other species as it is for crappie, and much […]
Every serious slab hunter has a honey hole or two, some prized length of river or special spot on a local lake that’s pretty much guaranteed to hold big crappie. Some folks will happily share this information, while others treat these places like state secrets and never breathe a word about them. We’re the sharing […]
A kayak is the perfect platform for crappie fishing, allowing you to get close to the vertical structure that crappie love without spooking them. A kayak also places you low to the water, enabling side-arm casts that can skip a jig way up under a dock in search of fat slabs that hold to the […]
The humble grub, a soft plastic bait with a short fat body and a wriggling tail, is an essential in almost every angler’s tacklebox - and for good reason. The curly-tailed grub and its many variations are deadly on everything from crappie to largemouth bass, flounder to perch, and salmon to walleye. And though tiny, […]
Spring is in the air, and for many anglers, that means one thing: crappie fishing! As you gear up for the start of crappie season or re-assess your tackle after a few trips to the water, you might be wondering about the best crappie rod and reel combos designed specifically for slab-hunting. Combos are an […]
We’ve written before about selecting a rod for crappie. But there, we were taking a close look at the best general purpose rods for casting, shooting, and jigging - all-arounders that could get most jobs done for papermouths. Spider rigging is specialized fishing, and a good general purpose rod isn’t going to be what you […]
As any successful crappie angler can tell you, the hooks you choose are no less important than your line, rod, and reel. Crappie sport bigger, more fragile mouths than similar species like bluegill, and they have an appetite for minnows rather than worms. If you’re new to chasing spring slabs, you might not know what […]
Besides working the shallow with long jigging poles and trolling with spider rigs there's another approach to slabs that’s not nearly as common or as well understood: the crankbait. Crankbait? If that leaves you puzzled, keep reading! Quick glance at the best crappie crankbaits: Strike King Slab Hammer Crappie Cranks Bandit Crappie Crankbaits 300 Series […]
Crappie anglers have never had a better range of choices for fish finding electronics, and from units designed for boats to anglers casting from shore, you’ll find the right model to suit your needs and budget. If you’re in the market for new crappie fish finder, we’re here to help. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive […]
For many anglers, spring means the start of crappie season. And while there are many ways to catch them, the best technique for early crappie involves a cork, float, or bobber. Whatever you call them, they’re ideal for suspending a jig at just the right depth or dropping a kicking cricket into a stationary school. […]
The ultralight tackle you use for fishing crappie turns each of these little fish into whales, adding to the addictive excitement angling for this species offers. In fact, just one afternoon catching these speckled devils will have you as hooked as they will be! And the good news is that reels for crappie doesn’t need […]
Whether you hunt your crappie in open water or in the tangles of downed trees, rod selection is critical to success. And while you don’t necessarily need a dedicated crappie rod, it’s worth remembering that a common nickname for the species is the “papermouth.” If you’re wondering what makes an ideal crappie rod, look no […]
Whether you call them crappie, speckled bass, or sac-a-lait, angling for these aggressive panfish is about as much fun as you can have with a rod in your hands. In fact, from Michigan to Louisiana, crappie provide year-round fishing excitement, whether you take them through the lake ice or from the shaded banks of a […]
Crappie anglers know that “papermouths” demand a light hookset. And to help, they often choose ultralight rods for their sensitivity and finesse, pairing this gear with carefully selected line. But not every angler opts for ultralight, and if you fish crappie with anything stouter, line choice becomes even more important. Which fishing line is the […]
