Patterning Crappie for beginners
I thought I would throw this together for those of you that are new into crappie fishing. I am sure many of you guys here on already know this stuff but maybe this will help out some of the new guys in the sport.
To understand how to catch crappie you need to understand a little about crappie.
Crappie are confined open water fish. Meaning they generally stick close to cover. Although they may suspend over open water at times they are not truly open water fish. A true open water fish is a slim line fish like a striper or sand bass made to chase down schools of bait fish. There strong swimmers and can generally be found in big schools on most lakes on main lake structure. Structure is the bottom contour of the lake, places like humps, points, and creek channels would be called structure. Crappie are more cover oriented. Cover is the things like brush, trees, condos, and those types of things that crappie like to hang around. A crappie is built to move around these types of things and ambush its prey.
Now that you know where the crappie are supposed to be that means now you just need to know what depth to look in. I have found from my experience that there is a pattern to there madness. Remember that they go the deepest in the winter. Although there are lakes where you can catch them in 45-50ft of water I have found that I find more in shallower water.
Here is what to expect. The fish go the shallowest in the spring and return almost as shallow in the fall. Summer is dictated more by a thermo cline level. I find that the crappie will hang out 1-5ft above that line. Remember this rule, in most cases you can find crappie in 10-22ft all year long. Yes there may be a better depth that is shallower in the spring or deeper in the winter but I guarantee you that there can always be crappie caught in these depths all year long. It�s a place to start your search and then you can work on patterning your fish.
Technique; when your not catching any fish and your totally new at crappie fishing I recommend you use minnows until you find some cooperative fish, then try jig fishing. I only say this because you could be on the best crappie spot with lots and crappie and not catch a one if you�re not used to how they bite. When you decide to try your jig remember to work it slow. Really watch your line carefully because they bite very subtle. Sometimes they even lift the bait up a little without ever tugging on the line. If you don�t lift your rod to set the hook you�ll never catch them.
Hook Set; one of the most common mistake I see is people setting the hook too hard. I see it on my boat and I�ve even seen it on the so called professional videos. The crappie is called a paper mouth for a reason. It doesn�t take much to set the hook. Another good reason to use a soft tipped pole. Something like the Wally Marshall rods or some of the other rods specifically designed for crappie.
The number one reason I see people having a hard time catching crappie when they bite is that they don�t recognize the bite. Use light tackle, light gear, and watch that line like a hawk.
Electronics, finding where there hiding, this is the most challenging for all of us I crappie fish tons of underwater cover. Reading my graph correctly is super important. Always get the best graph you can afford. It will pay off with the amount of fish you catch. If you can�t read your graph, learn how. Hire a guide or someone that is an expert at it. Your catch rate will increase dramatically, I promise ya.
Good luck!
Anyone needing on the water help, I offer �On the water� seminars that are loaded with information. The trip is focused on teaching the �how to�s� of crappie fishing. Techniques that can be applied anywhere.

Great report Chuck but the crappie is called paper mouth because of the soft tissue on the sides of the mouth and it will tear easily.But I would say that most of my fish are caught in the tough roof of the upper jaw.It takes a pretty good hook set to penetrate the boney part of the jaw.If you have ever taken a pair of pliers to remove one you know its not paper.There are times when the fish ( usally the light summer bite ) the fish are barely hooked in the lip and shake free when on top .I will alot of times double set a hook on the way up.Rods do play a big part in this a rod with the right tip helps play a fish while close or near the top before swinging her aboard.My 5 cents minus 3 .Keep your jig in the strike zone.Darrell

Chuck,

Great information (all right on target).

That is why you are one of the BEST - Hard to Beat and everyone I�ve had as a customer that has been with you always has nothing but great thing to say about you.

Don�t give all that good info out � someday we are going to write a book about all this,

Good Stuff Chuck,

Great info..Thank you!!

Thanks! I appreciate all the help we beginers get here.

Chuck,
Thanks for the info..
Sorry that the trips were canceled today but, the article is very informative even for some of the seasoned anglers....
Thanks again,
Jigum

thanks for taking the time to give out the tips!!!! everyone I fish with say.. " I can tell you used to fish largemouth bass"" . I yank so hard they go crosseyed when I set the hook. I like to use a 10 foot rod with a soft tip, so I kind of 'WHIP' the end of the rod tip upward really fast. down a hair then up. When Im looking for fish, the million dollar question that haunts me when I cant catch any is this. have I found some and they just arent biting? or have I just not found them? Then the self serving psycological games begin. Maybe its the wind, it keeps changing direction. The barometric pressure is too low, the water is too murky, all the sport boats are churning up the water, theres a big garfish in the area scaring them off, someone must have been in this spot earlier today and caught them all, the little crappie I caught has informed the rest of crappie not to bite, maybe this is just how its going to be forever ,slow, because we killed them last year, most all of the other boats have left why am I still out here, the guy on the loading dock said nobodys catching much,, and on and on. On the other hand, my positive side is saying,, the fish have to eat, and they are biting somewhere on this lake,, keep trying keep looking, you will find them and it will be so fun to catch them . 1 little stump can hold 50 or 60 fish , just find out which one. Find a little brushpile and it will be on!!!! Fishing is a very mentally challenging venture,. Sometimes I come home mentally exhausted from trying to '' figure them out".

Chuck,

Great article! I really enjoy this forum for guys just like you; the other guides and the future guides on here, that are willing to share from your storehouse of wisdom. I have come to believe that Texas might be the crappie capital of the states...where else do they grow'em to sixteen, seventeen plus inches? Oh by-the-way, caught my personal best the other day; solid sixteen inches. Anywhere else in the country that's a wall-hanger but here, just a nice fish! Don't take this fishing for granted guys! Everything duly noted!

Thank you again.

Great info Chuck! Thanks!!

Like Matthew said, something there for everyone from novice to veteran.

Good info Chuck. I can vouch for leanin posts violent hookset...bass habits die hard.

yes Lucas, when Jack and out went fishing I yanked one so hard it came flying out of the water and smacked him right on his calf., he didnt find it too funny . Im getting better though. haha

My dad had a flying fish yesterday...hit near the surface and came unhooked. Thankfully, he put it away from me towards the back of the boat.

Great posts and tips from Chuck and Darrell.
I'll have to second what Darrell said about the hook set.
I usually give a pretty good hook set with crappie also.
I have pulled crappie in my boat that would have got off if I gave them any slack, just because the hook did not penetrate the roof of their mouth.
I use ultra sharp sickle hooks but I still have an occasional bad hook set.
As Darrell says, SWING AND A MISS!

Good basic crappie fishing info!!
Thanks,

Gman

Fantastic stuff.
This sport is the ultimate "Finess" fishing.
The ones I have seen rip the hook out are letting the fish come out of the water too soon. Like any other fish, keep it in the water and a steady, smooth pull on it until you can get it in the boat. My brother used to tell me, when I let them jump and played them, you can play with it when it gets it in the boat.