I am a new angler, started this year, I really want to learn this sport. Tried reading books and learning now I need just some man knowledge,lets face it there really are some things yall know how to do better, to get the fine tuning in. I have spent alot of time out there on my own trying to learn this now I just need some help.....

Where to start.
1. This is a bad time of the year, go to deeper waters, around docks etc 20-30 ft deep.

Now someone else ad to this, and keep it going. You are only allowed one, so everybody gets to teach.

# 2........................

Gotta,
Find yourself a mentor who will take you (and buy the gas). Or hire a guide. I guide can teach you a lot in just one day. Think of it as fishing lessons. Be willing to pay your dues. Fishing mastery is a product of persistance and perseverance. I am presently teaching the son (age 10) of a friend to fish. He ask me how I got so good at catching crappie. I told him, if I practiced piano as much as I fish, I would be a good pianist. If you enjoy the act of fishing, you will practice and not get discouraged with failure. Because the road to success in fishing is paved with a lot of failure.
"Fishing is not necessarily that act of catching anything."
It's an activity that allows you to enjoy nature and sometimes the camaraderie of another fisherman.
Many loose focus after a couple of trips with no fish to take home, and return to the video games.
And that's OK, it's not for everyone....thank God!!
Good luck young man..
CrappieKyle

HET GOTTA WAY I 'll take ya if ya wanna go PM me

get Ernest's Crappie 101 dvd, very good information.

this board is a great place to learn and find fishing friends.


fishing will get better when it cools off.


crappie fishing can be so easy one day and so frustrating
the next, hang in there.

good luck
MO

Hate to sound like a broken record, but it would help a beginner big time if you would join a crappie fishing club. Fortunately, we do have one running strong, and that is CAT (I shouldn't promote this since I can't make it to a single meeting yet, but I thought it would help you out; And that is also why I am still a NOT very good crappie fisherman...heheh). This way, you can intermingle w/ the elites and amateurs alike. Get to know and hang out w/ different folks. Learn at the meeting then practice by hitting the water often. There will be more than willing club members who would take you out. Better yet, go to these tourney. You will be surprise how much you would gain by competing!
A friendly reminder, as long as you can dish out the help adequately on cost, you will be a good crappie fisherman in no time since you already have a desire to learn.
Good luck!!!

I am a guide, and I specialize in teaching people how to catch crappie. Not all fish are deep at this time, it depends on which lake you're fishing. It's things like that I can teach you on a guide trip.
GoodLuck
CrappieMaster

Are you fishing from a boat? If so standing timber is a great way to learn how to fish for crappie this time of year. You'll get bit by alot of stuff too, sandies, cats, blue gill, bass etc to let you know that you're doin something right.

Look for creek channels dumping into main lake with visible tree tops and then just pull up to one (buy a brush clamp and clamp boat to tree) let out about 14' of line next to the trunk and go up/down from there till ya get bit. I start from the trunk of the tree then work my way out and around it but you can do whatever works for you.

A more aggressive approach would probably yeild more fish per hour but I like to pull up to a tree and fish it pretty thouroughly (and have a cold refreshment or two) before moving on.

you can also try the feeder river of the lake i know the vine's marshal creek has some crappie in it if you can get out there PM me and ill let you know what to look for

Check out some of these videos on Youtube. Great for the basics, but definitely buy Crappie 101.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzgp8G1rM6A&feature=related
One key part of crappie fishing is to know the lake you're fishing. A good topo map and knowing how to read one can save you a lot of time.

Gentlemen thank you all so much for all the advise so far. I know I can learn how to be a very good angler with time as I can hunt with the best of them and bring in my share. What is the best lake to start crappie fishing on ? And don't laugh but how do you tell where the brush piles are ? Yes I have a boat,2005 Skeeter and a top of the line GPS, not that I know how to use it very well, still learnig that too. So much to learn but I know it is something I want to learn...when I am out there on the water I konw this is where I want to be...it is the hunt of something you can not see and know is there..But it is very hard to figure out...I have more tackle than I am sure I need because the guys at Bass Pro and Cabella's sell it to me...the basics in action are what I am wanting to learn....no more videos or books...I can fish in my living room, because I have practiced enough there..teach me like you teach a child...and I'll pay for all the gas and beer you want, I don't drink it myself..but I do drink bottled DrPepper....and I am a very good student..

What is "standing timber"? I am new to this lingo, so please don't laugh out loud....How do you "learn the lake" what am I looking for...I don't know this lingo but I can leran it...just like I did hunting..now that I can talk with you about..and by this time next year I will be fishing with the best of you if I am given the right information because I don't give up...I have spent most of the spring and summer out on lakes by myself and can now cast very well, several different types of reels, well at least the ones I haven't lost in the different lakes I have been to....are there any Grandpaws out there that want to adopt me for a few week ends, I will give you all the fish we catch.

Crappiemaster..where are you located?

Slapmesilly... how do you find a crappie fishing club? I'll join.

Sent you a PM..."gotta away"

The best way to know where brushpiles are is to put some out yourself, but that's for another day. The next best way to know is to fish with someone who fishes the lake a lot and knows where they are. Use your fishfinder to look for brush or logs on the bottom of the screen. Learning to use your fishfinder is very important. Usually people put brushpiles out in places where they think crappie are going to be anyway. The brush is just used to concentrate them into one specific place. Graph around in creek channels and underwater points. Also check around bridge pillars or other landmarks on the water. People use reference points on land to put their piles out so they can easily find them (especially those who don't have these new-fangled GPS thingamajigs). So, if you find yourself saying,"This would be a good place to put a brushpile" just look because there's probably already one there. Also try fishing around docks because people that live there want to have fish around their docks, so oftentimes they'll put brush out in front of them, and if not, a dock is a source of shade and structure anyway, so fish are likely to be there. Whew! I'm tagging out to the next person!