I'm looking to start crappie fishing as my son is still a little young to start hammering bass (he's 3). I have a boat and have watched a number of videos from various old-timers on YouTube, but ALOT of them seem to be using livescope and I don't have that.

How would ya'll go about beginning to crappie fish and teaching a young one? I have a boat with Humminbird units and spot lock. Should I graph for the fish offshore, or should I target visible timber in the coves? Is it better to use jibs or minnows?

Not sure what lake you fish, but this time of year a lot of crappie will be suspended or chasing bait balls. You should be able to find bait on sidescan or downscan. Drop a jig or minnow just below the bait and I am sure y'all will catch a few. Deep timber would also be a good idea. As you get into late February and March the fish will move back to shallow structure as they prepare to spawn. Mid March to April look shallow 10 foot of water or less. Good luck! Let us know how you do.

I would start by hitting up the marina's. Tossing a jig up into the boat stalls and letting it slowly fall back to you will typically get you bit. This time of year I would find the deeper docks. Also keep eyes out for any ropes hanging off the sides of the slips. Typically those are tree's suspended under the docks.

With that setup and a little one, I would definitely hit a bridge. Scan and see where they are holding and tie up and jig or drop minnows. Minnows will probably be easier with the kid.

That age… weatherford fishing barge…

Not a bad choice at all, Although with the water being so low I would probably go the extra distance and go to Graham's barge. Deeper water and heated

I know this is the crappie section but to maintain a young persons interest, just catch any kind of fish. It doesn't matter if it is sandbass, catfish, bream or crappie. To keep young (and sometimes old) people interested they need action.

3 years = cane pole and bluegills

Mo

Crappie are a little too frustrating and a finesse game for me to recommend a really young kid to go fishing for them. Brush, light bites, finicky fish, all points to something a little bit more experienced fisherman should get involved in. I agree bluegills and a bobber are the best way to go.

+1 I agree with Mcc on this one! The attention span of a 3yo & Crappie fishing doesn`t make for a good childhood experience simply because of the nature of the species being targeted IMHO. There is a "saying" that a Child should learn to crawl before he learns to walk,or milk before solid food . Well that`s two but my point is Children of this age are more interested in the action rather than the technique. A lack luster experience could ruin him on the sport all together.If you want to get him hooked on fishing buy him his own little Rod,Reel & Tackle box teach him how to Master The Sun fish,let him see a bobber disappearing before his eyes & experience the thrill of landing a fighting bluegill,make a BIGG deal out of it,take a picture,edify his confidence and before long he`ll be walking.IMHO

I would start with perch for him. I used to be dragged out with my dad and grandfather to crappie fish and I loved it when we were catching, but hated it when just sitting there for what seemed like hours with no bites. I would suggest finding a deep boat house that might have bluegill/sunfish and might also have some crappie. You would be surprised at how many crappie can be caught on a worm. Get him hooked, then one day say "let's go and hit that bridge and see if we can catch some crappie". I am glad you are doing that, just need to make sure he says interested! Good for you Sir. Happy New Year!

At 3yo, buy a plastic fish and stick it on the line. At 5yo, remove the plastic fish.

I drove to grahams barge (peanuts barge) to only find it closed. Their operating hours are not good for business in my opinion. Was 11am Wednesday… supposedly open 7am - noon… won’t be making that drive again. Ended up at West Bay Marina (EM) and had a decent afternoon.

Excellent advice there ‘bonz. I would add that the State of Texas has a program that lets you document a child’s first fish by issuing a certificate with their name and all the pertinent info on the catch. Don’t know that a 3 year old would appreciate it right now but most likely will in the future. My oldest grandson certainly did, and he is now obsessed with fishing. Making a big deal out of it can’t be overstated.

Take him with you. Bring minnows. He will have more fun playing in the minnow bucket than you can imagine. At some point he will want to know what you are doing to get the big minnows.