| Tips on how to catch fall crappie can be boiled | | | | All artificial baits should simulate the action of a |
| down to one thing; finding them, determining just | | | | minnow, although the crappie will eat crawfish, |
| what is on their menu for today and then present | | | | worms and just about anything else if it's handy. |
| it in a way that is pleasing to their palates. In | | | | By far, the minnow seems to be its favorite |
| short, you have to 'sell' the menu! | | | | snack. |
| After that, the rest is fairly easy. Fall crappie | | | | If the water is clear, use a silver and black color |
| are a little harder to find, because they're | | | | jig. These are natural shades of a minnow and |
| generally in deeper water than in the spring and | | | | they just might be on their menu today. That |
| you have to use a bit of finesse to get them in | | | | said, maybe a yellow, chartreuse or even pink |
| the boat. | | | | one could work equally well. The point is that |
| As freshwater fish go, the crappie is hands down | | | | you have to keep experiment until you find one |
| the best eating fish around. Catching them can | | | | that works. |
| be a touch and go proposition since they are only | | | | Try your luck with vibrant colors like chartreuse, |
| a little less finicky when it comes to eating, than | | | | white, yellow, hot cranberry and fiery blue |
| my cat Spike. The bait that worked yesterday | | | | marabou jigs when the water is dingy or muddy. |
| may be a loser today. | | | | These are easier for the fish to see than natural |
| They are also notorious for being very fickle | | | | tones. |
| about depth. Yesterday's success may have little | | | | If you are going to use a spinner bait, tie on the |
| to do with your luck today. If the fish aren't | | | | smallest one you can find. Crappie are lazy and |
| biting, it's time to experiment! | | | | small baits seem to be more enticing than large |
| In the fall I find fish by drifting across a large | | | | ones. It really doesn't make sense, but then I'm |
| body of water. With several lines in the water | | | | not a fish! |
| set at different depths, if I snag a crappie at the | | | | Like a good waiter, how you present whichever |
| same depth twice, it's very probable that that is | | | | bait you are using is the key to catching crappie. |
| where they're going to be holding. I have tried | | | | I have found that generally the slower you |
| this method of fishing many times and it has | | | | retrieve your crappie tidbit, the better your |
| always had a high success rate for me, though it | | | | chances are of catching them. |
| doesn't work all the time. | | | | Fishing in the fall down here in the south is a great |
| Crappie judge their favorite foods by its color. If | | | | confidence builder, whether you catch fish or |
| you are using only minnows, you'll just have to | | | | not. You'll leave the lake with the knowledge |
| trust your luck to the silvery colors of their | | | | that you are indeed an outdoorsman for having |
| bodies. If you are using jigs, then you have the | | | | survived the rigors fishing in the fall. |
| opportunity to experiment. | | | | |