I'm ready after all these years to learn to crappie fish. I live in Abilene and am wondering best places to crappie fish. I bass fish Ivie, oak creek, Brownwood, Hubbard creek, Leon, phantom when I have to and sometimes Stamford. Any place good right now. Throw in any tips for a newbie. Thank you!

Pick a lake that has a decent crappie reputation and concentrate on it, until you can figure out how to consistently catch crappie on that lake (meaning every time you go)...catching crappie consistently on multiple lakes is a more difficult game than catching bass consistently on multiple lakes....

When you pick a lake, get a guide for that lake and take a couple of trips with them, jig only...If no guide, take a day and ride around mapping the structures...then go fish some of them. DO NOT steal his/her hard earned brush pile locations...you are trying to learn jig color/selection, jig presentation, general lake keys (knowledge) and the like...tell them your situation, they may well provide you with more information than you bargained for, if so, tip very well....if not, tip very well anyway...they will next time out...

Learn how to use jigs correctly, multiple presentations, etc...most bass fishermen aren't prepared to jig fish, vertically. However, if you can fish Roadrunners...now is a good time to use them...muddy/high water conditions....they don't outproduce other jigs often, but when they do, they do...

Use jigs...minnows are sometimes required, but jigs will generally help you learn a lake faster, with less hassle.

Slow down...number one problem bass fishermen make when crossing over to crappie fishing.

Visit the crappie section often...identify crappie fishermen in your area...go fishing with them...most crappie fishermen are very helpful...but you got to learn to keep your mouth shut about their specific locations when visiting or fishing with others, and give them a heads up when you are heading to their favorite lake, ask them if they know where fish are biting...they will probably tell you where the bite is happening, just make sure you reciprocate...via fishing with them, phone call or PM.

Stay out of the bass coves...I know where every bass cove is located on the lakes I fish...I avoid them, UNLESS, I am wanting to cook some bass on the half shell....It is not possible on some lakes...but when looking shallow...try to stay away from bass coves...concentrate on the other ones first...learn to keep every legal bass you catch..most especially the larger ones....they are predator's of crappie...you won't truly be a crappie fisherman until you can master this one mental process...

Welcome to the light...

Good post...I've been thinking about fishing for crappie on the lakes I bass fish. Good crappie populations...just wasn't sure where to start. Thanks crapicat

Haha not sure ill get to that point completely but really do appreciate the advice.

Yup, great post!

So any advice on the best crappie lakes around here?

My best crappie lake is the one I can fish the most.....

It takes several & I mean several trips to learn a lake, those crappie will pick structure in some of the water most pass over to get to there MAGIC spot.....
Put the time in scanning it will pay off big time....
That's a good post from Crapycat & funny bout keeping tha big bass.....

Yea, my buddy TBox won't either...lol...I on the other hand, enjoy some 8lb plus black bass grilled on the half shell...try it a few times, you will probably reconsider...the smaller ones can be saut�ed in butter, baked, or added to gumbo to make a hearty meal...

Glad you guys enjoyed the information....seriously though...learn to crappie fish, then learn one lake...specific color preferences, body style preferences, hiding places, season depth/location preferences, movement patterns, etc. and just how to catch a mess of crappie one that lake when you go fishing...I define a mess as the amount of fish that is required to serve fresh crappie for dinner. When you are comfortable you can do that whenever you want to eat crappie...then feel free to venture out to another lake....and begin that process all over again...But, if someone invites you to try "their" lake...by all means go and learn...

Pm sent...

Message recieved thanks.

So are there any Abilene people on here willing to share a good place to go this Saturday?