Long line fishing also known as trolling is done from a slow-moving boat. Long lining for crappie is not much different than trolling for any other type of pan fish and is easy to way to cover some distance if you aren’t exactly sure where a crappie school maybe.
Long Lining For Crappie
What You Need
In order to long fish, you will need a boat, one or more fishing rods, some light fishing line (6-pound tests works well) and 2- 1/16 ounce jigs per pole and line.
To prepare your rod for long line fishing, replace any heavier line you may have on your rod and reel with the lighter line. Then tie the jigs to the line about 18 inches apart.
Long Line Fishing
Get your boat started on the body of water you plan on fishing and set your boat’s speed between .8 and .10 miles per hour (Your boat needs to go slow in order to give the crappie time to bite at the bait. )
Cast your line out into the water and then let out 30 to 35 feet of line before closing the bail on your reel. Place the rod into the rod holder on your boat and secure it in the holder so that it won’t fall from the boat.
Watch the tip of your rod. If a fish bites then the tip of the rod will either twitch or the rod will bend. Pick up the rod and start reeling in the line being careful to ensure that you don’t jerk too hard on the rod and rip the jig from the crappies mouth (crappies have delicate paper-thin lips).
Tips For More Success When Long Fishing For Crappies
Here are a few tips to help increase your success as a long line crappie fisherman.
Know the law
Different states and areas have different laws governing how many rods you can use when trolling for crappie and how many fish you are allowed to catch in a day. Check your local laws so that you know all the necessary information regarding long line fishing for crappie in your area.
Get Information From Other Crappie Longliners
If you are not sure where those schools of crappie can be found look for other longline crappie fishermen and fish in the same area but don’t get too close to their boats. You can also ask them at what depth their fishing and other information that you may find helpful.
If you are not having any luck longline fishing for crappie you may be fishing too deep. Adjust the depth of your line in the water. Remember crappie feed up so it is better to have your line too shallow then too deep.
You want to fish for crappie during the afternoon and evening since that is when crappies are the most active.
Remember that even the most skilled fishermen don’t always have luck catching fish, which is part of what makes fishing so much fun and exciting.
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