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.
Finding Those Elusive Crappie Fish
Any angler worth their salt knows how to find the prime fishing spots for crappie. Even the most experienced fishermen aren’t right every time, but there are a few things which generally sound guidelines to follow when looking for crappie fishing spots.
During certain times of the year, crappie tend to hide out in deeper waters; but one of the better places to find these fish when they haven’t headed for the nearest lake to spend the winter or aren’t hanging out a little deeper to avoid warm summer temperatures is among the cover provided by weed beds, sunken logs, stumps, the mouths of feeder streams, lily pads and other spots where they can hide during the day.
For this reason, this is what anglers in search of crappie will look for. Locating these likely crappie hideouts and carefully getting into casting position so as not to disturb the fish is the first step. During spring and autumn, the rest is almost effortless. Crappies are relatively active in these seasons, so a fast moving jig or a cork or bob with a minnow work wonders for the angler.
In the summer, anglers will want to look for crappie in shaded cover close to deeper waters. Underneath docks and bridges are good places to search along with the usual cover they prefer. You’ll have much better luck from dusk to dawn; particularly in the summer since crappie prefer to feed after dark.
Spots where you’re likely to find crappie in streams and creeks include sunken trees, snags and undercuts in the banks of the stream are all places crappie looking to spend the day in a shady spot favor. You may also catch trout and bass in these spots, so even if you don’t come across any crappie you’ll almost certainly catch something.
Anglers will also want to try slow trolling along eddies and among the rocks in streams with a fast-moving current.
Finding Crappie in Lakes
Crappie tend to spend most of their time in the deeper waters farther out from the shore when they’re in lakes, so casting from a boat is often your best bet. Try the small coves along the shorelines, weed beds and wherever there’s a drop off. If you’re fishing at night, you’ll have an easier time hooking crappie while they come out to feed – the couple of days preceding the full moon are the best days to try your luck.
Weed beds near the entry points of feeder streams are nearly always good spots; not just for crappie either. You may also catch pike or bass in these spots.
It takes some time to develop an eye for the places where crappies and other fish are hiding out, but with patience, you’ll eventually become an expert crappie tracker.