One of the most difficult and sometimes frustrating things that a new or experienced crappie angles find when trying to identify what are good tips to catch crappie is the "what" "when" "where" and "how" When selecting the best bait for crappie fishing. We as fisherman know on any given day we can come up empty handed. If we don't catch any crappie we will start asking ourselves what did I do wrong today? What tackle for crappie fishing should I of used? Of course as you become a more experienced fisherman there are some intangibles when fishing that are simply out of our control and should be noted as such. The Trick good old Mother Nature plays on us from time to time is a prime example. The key to becoming a more consistent crappie fisherman is learning tips to catch crappie that are manageable. In the following paragraphs I am going to identify some very simple guidelines that I think you can use to determine how to catch crappie at your local fishing hole.
Guideline #1 Always use your local bait shop and state or federal department of natural resources to get local fishing information. Here are some good questions to ask; "What crappie minnow rigs people are using" , " What type of crappie live bait anglers are using", "What types of crappie fishing jigs and what sizes are fisherman using", "What is the average size of the crappies fisherman are catching" "Where are the best spots to catch crappie". The folks at the bait stores talk to fisherman everyday and the department of natural sources do annual netting of crappie to determine the average. size and numbers of these fish, they are a valuable resource when developing your list. You want to be as thorough as you can be with these folks because based on the information you obtain from these folks you are going to make your best crappie bait selection. For example if after interviewing your local bait shop and the department of natural resources you find out the average catch size anglers are catching is around 1/2lb to 1lb. Live bait fisherman are having the best luck using fathead minnows, and fisherman using jigs are catching crappie on small 1/64oz to 1/32oz jigs painted florescent green. The fish are being caught in the shallow areas around sunken trees. Ok al you need to do now is make you crappie rigging to march your information. Those 10 or 15-minute interviews can make the difference of catching fish or coming home empty handed. After you have set up your crappie crappies fishing rigging and caught a few fish, clean a few and see what is inside their stomachs this is a excellent way to find out exactly what crappie are eating on any given day!
Guideline #2 Spring is the most active time of year for the crappie species. Get your crappie minnow rigs and your arsenal of jigs for crappie ready because the crappie fish will be active! Crappie will start spawning when the water temperature reaches about 56degrees Fahrenheit. The crappies will be eating large adult crappie minnows right before the spawn because their natural forage fish do not spawn until later in the spring and summer when the water temperature rises to above 70degrees Fahrenheit. So if your wondering what crappie baits to choose keep in mind that the early spring crappie and the fish on the spawning nests will be eating larger forage fish. You can verify this information but cutting open the stomachs of a few fish and example the contents. Another important tip to catch crappie is the fact that nesting crappie hate any fish invading their nesting areas. You can use this to your advantage because these fish will "strike out at any thing that invades there nesting area.
Guideline #3 In the summer months your choice of crappie fishing rigging and crappie bait can vary on the size of fish you want to target. As the water temperature warms to 70 degrees Fahrenheit the forage fish such as crappie fishing minnows begin to spawn. And will continue to spawn throughout late spring and well into summer or until the water temperature approaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The smaller crappie will feed off the fry while the larger crappie will feed off of the adults. The size of your crappie baits will mater in the summer. For example if you want to catch crappie in the 1lb range you will need to use larger crappie live bait and larger crappie jig sizes. If the fish are feeding on threadfin shad you will need to match the size and look of these forage fish if you want to be successful. A good way to create your imitation is to catch a few shad and use them to make your crappie baits.
Guideline #4 There are special situations where you need to do some additional preparation to learn how to catch crappie. One of the most common special situations you will come across depending on where you are fishing is water clarity. This will be the only special situation we will touch on today. When you are fishing muddy or stained water waters the crappie will have a hard time seeing your crappie baits, and rigging for crappies so you need to hone in on their keen senses here. On your crappie live bait rigs you will need to add some flashy spinner blades and some rattles. The crappie can hear the rattles and see the blade flash as they approach your crappie bait enticing them to strike. In clear water you will need a very small diameter fishing line like fire line, that is near invisible in the water. Your crappie rigging will need to be the smallest you can find that will still get your crappie baits to where the fish are. The crappie's sight is outstanding in clear water so you need to imitate the forage fish bait well.
Mark Fleagle is an Expert Author At Ezinearticles.com. and has over 30 years of fishing experience who has written 100's of useful fishing articles. Would you like to max out your catch on your next fishing trip? Blow your fishing buddies out of the water and get your bragging rights today! Also don't forget to get your free copy of "78 Fishing Discoveries Unleashed" http://www.oldfishinghole.com
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