This is the one I had completely wrong when I started out. I know of a couple of places where the crappie are consistently near the bottom in water deeper than 12 feet, but that's the exception, not the rule. It's a mistake I see lots of others make, too.


Another very good point. It's not an exact science, and there's nothing wrong with putting some of your own personality into your techniques. You may find some fish that others don't.

#1 is my personal worst habit. First thing of a morning, especially if I haven't fished in a while, I'll catch myself workin' he77 out of the jig and wondering why I'm not getting bit.

@earnest, Absolutely right on

Like I used to tell people that argued over Christian religious denomination... They're all trying to get you to the same place!

Trolling or hand fishing we're all trying for the same result. Fish in the boat!

This one is my weakness. I'll fish a spot too long just because I caught a couple or caught some there before.

One thing that will help a beginner is to do what Ernest has done for years. Build and sink your own brush piles. That is one of the most rewarding experiences in crappie fishing in my opinion, Catching fish off of the structure that you put out is
fantastic. Question for Ernest, how is that battery powered chain saw doing?

Me too... We should fish together sometime and waist too much time on one spot...lol

Nice topic and good feedback!

Now if I only had the time to go fishing.....

That is one heck of a list, but I also fish the bottom up.

I don't think bottom up or top down matters a lot as long as you find the right depth, and do it in a timely manner. If the fish are holding a rock pile on the bottom, start just off the bottom. If you're fishing a bridge that has a cross member 10 feet down, start at that depth or a little less.

I usually start fishing even more shallow than Ernest does, unless I'm fishing a deep rock pile, ledge, hump, or something like that. But when I first started crappie fishing, I always seemed to start out way too deep and work my way up. I still see lots of fishermen do that, and you can waste a lot of time that way.

The most reasonable explanation I've heard about fishing top down is that when you catch one you aren't dragging it through the other fish and possibly scattering them. Don't know if its true or not but I like to start shallow and work deeper. But I also know there have been times when the fish moved up and we raised our baits and started catching them again from the bottom up!

#4 is what i always preach to my buddies....if they are there they usually will hit it right away if its in front of their face. My friends say i move to much but i always seem to always have a fuller live well at the end of the day!

I love the people that camp out on a tree or bridge piling while im moving around timber wearing them out!

Great list Mr. Paty!
Have fail at #4 way too often. I will get on a spot and realize I've been there way no long with no thumps, especially true when I have fish located on the down/side scan and can't get hit after color switches and all. My wife claims that's just one of the many things I'm hardheaded about...