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Depending on the time of year that you strike out to take a fishing trip, tactics used to catch
crappie can be very different. For example, if you take your weekend crappie fishing excursion in the middle of June or July,
you won't find the crappie near the surface or in shallow waters as you would in early spring. Instead, you'll have to fish
deeper, usually closer to fifteen feet where the waters are cooler more consistently.
In general, crappie
fishing is inconsistent mostly because these fish have a personality that requires very specific conditions for fruitful reproduction.
For example, it seems that activity increases as the full moon nears, and some anglers find that the best crappie fishing
can take place in twilight or at night about four to five days prior to the full moon. However, they seem to become sluggish
as the full moon hits, so this is perhaps the least productive day of the month in which to go fishing for crappie.
If you are going to go crappie fishing during a full moon, you should try using live bait, as it is more likely to catch the attention of lethargic crappie. Also, be sure to use a slower technique, such
as slow trolling. However, in the days prior to the full moon, crappie fishing will be most productive with a fast troll using
jigs. Because the fish are active, it takes more movement to catch their eye and get a hook in on a nice slab. Different anglers
will recommend different bait overall in the summer months; however, using a 1/16 ounce green or chartreuse jig tipped with
a minnow seems to do the trick every time.
Crappie fishing can be found at hundreds of thousands of lakes
and streams throughout the United States, so there is no easy answer as to where you'll find the most productive lake at any
given point. Although they tend to be some of the smallest fish sought out by anglers overall, crappie is one of the most
abundant types of fish in the country, meaning that they can easily be found and caught, even be inexperienced fishermen.
In fact, because crappie fishing can be so easy, if you go out in the spring for a fishing excursion, it doesn't much matter
what equipment you use; you are almost guaranteed to find crappie and have a decent catch.
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