Really Crappie Weather!

To kick off the new year we have had some really crappie weather! Perfect weather for crappie fishing, that is!

Also known as speckled perch, these panfish are slightly larger than the typical bluegill and are down right delicious, not to mention a lot of fun to catch! With dry, cold and windy conditions, this is very ideal for targeting these tasty critters! Crappie can be found almost anywhere in the state from ponds, lakes, and rivers, and there are several ways to target them. My favorite way is pitching jigs along vegetation using light 4/6lb mono and 1/16 oz jigs in green and pink, look for areas that have flowing water and small eddy’s or current breaks and your almost sure to find some crappies close by!

Another great method that can yield some larger fish is slow trolling. Look for areas on the edges of lakes or mouth of rivers and channels that have drop offs or small depth changes even, troll in zig zag patterns at slow speeds such as 1mph, give or take a little. Once you get a bite, continue to do circles within that area and it should continue. Crappie like to school up and the majority of the time you’ll find larger numbers all together. Jigs are a better way to cover ground faster and work great; the key is small and light. You can also use live Minnows in each of these scenarios under a small float with a light split shot. They can be slow trolled or fished along grassy banks, and most bait shops this time of year will have them in stock!

With more and more cold on the way, the crappie bite should get better and is definitely a great “go to” when conditions are less than ideal for saltwater fishing!