Benmin Smith Crappie aren’t easy catches; they’re finicky and reject heavy tackle. Failing to respect the nuance of the fish before buying your hooks is the surest way to go home empty-handed, and a rod breaking on its first cast is just one example of the frustration that comes with poor gear choices. Fishing for them isn’t … Read more
Locating fish is half the battle in crappie fishing, especially in dirty water. To do this, you either sit in a boat or stand on shore and figure out exactly where those panfish set up. It’s not so much about catching fish as it is solving the puzzle of where they’re positioned. It takes experimentation … Read more
Sooner or later it will happen: An angler around you is catching crappie on every other cast, while yours goes dead. You reel yours in, check your line, reset your hook and cast again. Nothing happens, except for his bobber floating still while other anglers’ bobs ripple from fish bites. There’s something in the water, … Read more
Late winter brings one distinct sound into angler forums. Anglers debate whether hooks, rattles and bright plastic lures works. We’re talking ACC Crappie Stix or something like them. They’ve caught fire in the South and Midwest. There’s a lot of talk that they’re a quick fix for putting crappie in the boat. They’ll produce where … Read more
Crappie fishing is less like a treasure hunt and more methodical then how most anglers approach it. Crappie are predictable animal that respond to very specific thing in the environment. When you put the pieces together you’ll be able to find them. Where they’re located has a lot more to do with water conditions, cover, … Read more