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How to Catch More Crappie in the Wintertime: Winter Crappie Fishing Tips

How to Catch More Crappie in the Wintertime: Winter Crappie Fishing Tips

Winter crappie fishing tips may help you to stand above the other anglers out there that struggle with crappie fishing during the colder months. Many fishermen, even experienced ones, believe you can not catch crappie anytime except the springtime. This is not a fact.
Crappie does spawn in the spring and are much easier to find in large quantities at this time, but the truth is crappie can be caught any time of the year. Perhaps the key to catching more crappie in the winter months would be to understand their seasonal habits and fish accordingly. Most importantly, know that fishing for crappie during this season may pose a challenge, but is well worth it!
When the weather begins to get warmer, crappie fish begin to migrate toward the shallows. Leaving their deeper water homes, they prepare to spawn. The timing and duration of the spawning will be different depending on the lake conditions, weather patterns, and current weather conditions.
Look for crappie during their migration, in structure such as piers, brush, and undergrowth. You will readily find them eager to munch on anything they can find because of their need for fast moving, to get to their destination.
When fishing in the late parts of winter and early spring, remember that the northern most sides of lakes and bodies of water tend to warm first, and most crappie will move to the warmer areas, and need to feed. Murky water also tends to heat faster than clear water, and your chances of getting a good catch in these types of areas is very good. Look at the layout of the lake or area you will be fishing. Where are the most ideal places for crappie to be at this moment?
In actuality, fishing for crappie during the winter months is the most predictable time of the year as far as fish behavior is concerned. During the cold time of the year, these fish will always be found in the deeper parts of the water. Using a depth finder and concentrating on the deepest areas is a great way to find the crappie for which you are looking.
The tendency for crappie to seek seclusion in structure might deviate during this time of the year. You can also find the crappie suspended in the water about midway, but looking for baitfish, such as shad, is a good way to locate the crappie you seek. With depth in fishing, tailor your fishing tackle, fishing line and rod to deeper waters. Be sure that you consider the importance of line strength here.

Posted by admin - March 19, 2011 at 2:09 am

Categories: Crappie Fishing Tips   Tags: , , , ,

What Size Hook Should I use to Catch Crappie?


This is a question that is commonly asked by novice anglers planning their first crappie fishing excursion. Unfortunately, there is no single right answer to this question, which is why it is almost invariably answered with another question: What are you using for bait?

Minnows call for a #2 light wire Aberdeen hook, since you don’t want to kill the minnow before it can attract crappie. This smaller hook also allows for more movement, ideal for slow trolling for crappie. I almost never use a #4 or #6 with minnows, unless I’m just dunking the bait in brush piles to see if there’s any response while trying to avoid getting snagged.

If you’re using minnows with a jig, I still say a #2 hook is the answer. If you want to use a jig with spikes or waxworm though, then go with a #4 or #6 hook instead. With Roadrunner jigs, a 1/8 oz jig with minnows, 1/16 for tubes, grubs and other smaller baits.

I should also mention that hook gap is actually more important than hook size. A live bait hook with a bigger gap lets you go with a smaller size like#6. A small hook is easier for your bait and reduces the odds of losing a crappie by tearing off their lip! Crappies have very soft, easily injured mouths. If you’re doing catch and release, then a smaller hook is better since it causes less damage and gives the fish better odds of surviving the experience.

00 sizes are good for Roostertail, Mepps and other French type spinners. You can go as high as 0 or even 1 if you have especially large crappie in your local waters. 1/8 oz Roostertail or Panther Martins are fine, but anywhere up to ¼ oz works pretty well.

With a Daredevil, go for size 0. If you use crankbaits, you want ultralight models (Rapala or Heddon are good ones); but something like a 1/8 oz Lazy Ike is murder on crappie.

Finally, for all the fly fishers out there, I recommend Clouser Minnow flies and Crappie Candy sized 8-12 depending on your local stock. Tied on a straight-eye streamer hook, these are about as good as crappie fishing gets.

Posted by admin - June 12, 2009 at 10:31 am

Categories: Crappie Fishing Lures   Tags: , , , , , , , ,

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