Crappie Fishing Basics - Tips For Locating and Catching Crappie in Spring!

In the spring, the secret to finding crappie is tocrappie will seek deeper water during the day and
locate their spawning areas. These areas are income into the shallows to feed during the low light
rooty or weedy shallows, usually near shore, inperiods of dawn and dusk. Unlike bass, crappie do
water 1 to 10 feet deep. The best shallows arenot prefer weed beds but prefer other types of
near drop offs providing escape to deeper water,cover which have been mentioned above if it is
where the fish go after spawning.available.
Before spawning, crappies will school in the dropThe traditional way to catch crappie is by using
offs near the shallows and will remain nearby forlive minnows suspended under a bobber at the
a week or two after spawning. Fishing thedesired depth. Artificial lures like small jigs or flies
shallows and along the drop offs can be good forcan be equally as effective if fished properly. Live
a month or two in spring with the best fishingbait and jigs should be cast into the shallow
being in the shallows on the windward shorespawning areas in spring, or trolled along the drop
where the winds have driven the food sources.offs close to the spawning areas. Keep moving,
After spawning, schools of crappie will move tocasting, or trolling at different depths until you find
deeper water where there is protective coverthe strike zone. Once you find the strike zone
such as brush piles, stumps, trees, and deepcontinue fishing in the same area. If the bite slows
channels. They might also seek shade near rocks,or stops, repeat the pattern in another area with
bridge pilings, and docks. Focus your efforts insimilar features and water depth.
these areas during this time of the year.These are the crappie fishing basics for locating
As spring progresses, and summer arrives,and catching crappie in spring.