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New to Crappie and Bluegill #11530894 04/09/16 12:39 PM
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SamCollins123 Offline OP
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I'm new to fishing for crappie and bluegill. I was just wonder when is the best time to fish for crappie and what baits. And when is the best time for bluegill and what baits work.love to fish aftifical baits but if they bite live more that's what I will use. Thank you

Re: New to Crappie and Bluegill [Re: SamCollins123] #11530925 04/09/16 01:00 PM
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SlowDown Offline
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Lot of people are better prepared to answer your questions than me, but can tell you I started catching bluegills in the Austin area two weeks ago. The bite will improve as time goes by. I do best in the summer months when insects are flying around. The best advice I can give you as a beginner is to use live bait, worms or crickets. Good luck and don't hesitate to ask questions about line, hooks, weights, rigging, etc. Also, you can use Google to find informative YouTube videos on fishing for bluegills and crappies.

Last edited by fish 'till I drop; 04/09/16 01:05 PM.
Re: New to Crappie and Bluegill [Re: SamCollins123] #11530959 04/09/16 01:28 PM
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Two GREAT fish for sure! Crappie right now have just completed their spawn for the most part. They will be moving back to deeper water. You can find them in or by docks that are located in 14 to 20 feet of water. Boat slips usually hold some nice ones. They will also be by brush piles and on ledges in that depth. During the dog days of summer you can find them in water 21 to 28 feet. Bridge pillars and brush piles will usually hold fish. Just about any type of jig that has Chartreuse in it will work. Chartreuse/Pink have been working the best for me and friends I fish with. You can also get good results using live minnows. hooked


Bluegill/Sunfish. They will be spawning very soon. You will find good numbers in shallow water sitting on nest. Once the spawn is over they will be hanging around docks,tree overhangs,brush piles,and other structure. 8 to 12 feet of water during the late spring through late fall are good depths to catch sunfish. As for baits I personally use live night crawlers on a size six hook with a shot about 4 to 6 inches above the hook. I fish most of the time off the bottom. You would need a float if the bottom is dirty(weeds,mud,etc.) thumb

Hope this helps you some. The more you fish the better you will get. Your pan fish tactics will improve over time. Best of luck and let us know how you do. Love seeing those sunfish/Crappie reports. cheers


Side Note: Two of the BEST EATING fish also! food


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Re: New to Crappie and Bluegill [Re: SamCollins123] #11531416 04/09/16 09:22 PM
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SamCollins123 Offline OP
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Thank yall

Re: New to Crappie and Bluegill [Re: SamCollins123] #11532258 04/10/16 02:40 PM
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Smithaven Offline
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Originally Posted By: SamCollins123
I'm new to fishing for crappie and bluegill. I was just wonder when is the best time to fish for crappie and what baits. And when is the best time for bluegill and what baits work.love to fish aftifical baits but if they bite live more that's what I will use. Thank you

Crappie are a cantankerous fish which may take minnows best one day and jigs the next. The best minnows are as small as you buy. The best jigs are black and chartreuse on a pink head with a yellow or chartreuse crappie nibble. In any case the best bite occurs just after sunup or in the early part of the night.

Bluegill on the other hand are much more predictable. Hands down, the best bait are 1 inch grey crickets, followed closely by short bits of Canadian nightcrawlers. The best bite occurs in the early morning, but they will usually bite all day unless a cold front is in the area.

Other sunfish such as redear may prefer worms over crickets.

I have put together a blog which gives tips on tackle and bait for sunfish. Click here.

We are coming up to the best time to fish for all panfish. The next two months the bite will be great. This forum is home to the most expert sunfishermen in Texas. Watch the forum in the next weeks for reports.


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Re: New to Crappie and Bluegill [Re: SamCollins123] #11532464 04/10/16 04:52 PM
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larry mays Offline
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When on plan trips the guys have give you the best ways. But here in Texas a lot of us carry a rod and jigs with us at all times to check out places we come across. Robert over at Crazy Angler has a 1 1/4 jig that is great, and Chuck and Debs has most anything a person may need in 3/4 inch up to bass stuff. I use a lot of their 1 inch tube jigs. Both places are easy to find on the internet. Also Thermocline Lures is coming out with a new one that is 1 1/2 inch that is going to be real good on crappie and big sun fish. Good Fishing

Re: New to Crappie and Bluegill [Re: SamCollins123] #11538164 04/12/16 11:46 PM
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Laker One Offline
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Totally agree on every thing above. I may add nothing beats Pan Fishing! Crappie and Sunfish! woot

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