1. Next year im taking the transducer off my trolling motor during spawn,
2. use a fast retrieve spincast reel with 10 lb line.
3. tie a swivel on after the slip cork, with 6 pound test, so if u get hung, no need to redo the whole rig, just the bottom.
3. use a minumum 6.6 rod, fairly stiff so there enough
leverage to get a good hookset,
4. in areas that are fished hard, try the area that look like the DONT hold fish, because nobody has likely tried, and there may be structure u cant see thats loaded with fish.
5. go into the wind just like your fishing timber, dont drift past the structure along the bank.
6. tri colored jigs work great, especially with skirts, and something with some red in it.
7. 80 percent of the fish caught will likely be small to med males.
8. dont wait on water temp, dont wait on the calender.dont wait on the moon.
9. fish the shady side of structure when u can first.
10. try to remember the spots u caught them on, because next year another crappie will also find that spot attractive.

plz feel free to add to this list.

Why wait till next year? The spawn is still going on in some places. This female was caught tonight in shallow water.

I found fish close by those spawning areas hanging in slightly deeper water 4'-8' both before the spawn and after. If they aren't there yet or you think you missed them, check close by.

Nice post! I will add that I learned crappie love rocky banks.....

I will add I hate you.

I learned to find spots protected from north and south winds. Follow the creek channels into those spots with the spider rig. When you get on a good bed, anchor the front of the boat so your spider rigs are in the channel n anchor the back shallow so you can fish both at the same time.

Nice post, I like bullet 1.... I've never mounted mine on the t/m, back of the boat for me, I can guess what's between the other 14 ft.

And you don't tear it up

I learned that people watch you from a distance and later take your spot. I learned that talking to others will help you catch more fish as well

Good post

This being my first year fishing for Crappie It was quick to note that during the spawn the fish had moved to shallower water. I was catching em during the months from November thru Mid February in water 18 to 22 feet deep. During the spawn we were locating em off of creek channels in 4 to 8 feet of water.



Side Note: Great Post. Picking up some super information. Thanks.

If you don't get bit in a matter of minutes, keep moving.

very very thin floats .....
almost not floating ....
go down super easy from the slightest thing ....
sum a them bites were the slightest thangz .....

I have found that if you are fishing thick cover, fish the outer edges first. If you drop into the thick middle, you are likely to have a good fish hank you up in there. If there were any fish on the edges, you ran them off getting the fish out of there.

If you are catching small males on the bank, there is a good chance that some big sows are behind you in 4 to 6 feet of water.

Also, if you wait until someone tells you they are spawning, you may have waited too long.