Fishing for crappie is one of the more enjoyable forms of fishing because of its relaxed nature and the ease of the catch. This article will help those that enjoy crappie fishing catch more fish. One of the nice things about crappie fishing is the accessibility of it. You don't need a fishing boat to catch a lot of fish and it can be done right from a dock or shoreline. If there is a local bait store nearby, be sure to ask someone there, where some good fishing locations are. They are usually more than happy to help out.
The main diet of a crappie is small minnows. If you are going to use lures to catch crappie, it is best to use smaller lures that will mimic the minnows that they normally eat. Attaching a live minnow to the end of a lure is another good tactic that can help attract more nibbles.
Some of the best fishing happens at night when the crappie feed just before settling down for the night. Pier fishing in the evening will provide a lot of bites and many chances for catching crappie. One crappie fishing tip that has received a lot of mileage by many is to use a lantern near the surface of the water to attract bugs and small fish. This attraction will eventually bring crappie nearby that like to feed on those small fish. This will give the angler plenty of opportunities to catch crappie.
As was said earlier, smaller tackle works best for crappie fishing. You will want to makes sure that the hook sizes you are using are not too big. Crappies are not big fish, so if you use a hook or lure that is too large, then a crappie will never be caught by it. A hook size that is between 8 and 10 is the best option to go with. If you've decided to attach live bait to your lure, then use two hooks. One will be dedicated to holding the live bait while the other is there to hook the crappie.
Crappies are often called "papermouths". They get this nickname because of the fact that their mouths are very delicate. If you feel a nibble on your lure, don't tug too hard on your line to set the hook. This will often times rip the hook right out of its mouth. You generally don't need to set the hook at all with a crappie. Just start reeling in and the crappie will hook itself naturally.
Crappies are known for being one of the best tasting freshwater fish. Every angler should enjoy a good tasting crappie every now and then. Hopefully this article will help you catch many crappies on your next fishing trip.
Aaron is a pastime fisherman who enjoys writing about the leisure sport of fishing. He fishes mostly freshwater in lakes and rivers. Aaron looks to help others improve their fishing experiences by writing tips and techniques for freshwater fishing. To read more of his articles visit: Crappie Fishing Tips
