There are many resources available about Crappie fishing.  But if I were to recommend any book about Crappie fishing to someone who is new or even intermediate in experience level, it would be “The Crappie Fishing Handbook” by Keith Sutton.

The book runs around $11 on Amazon, and is full of great tips.  Pretty much everything you want to know about Crappie fishing is covered from their biology to how to catch them.  Keith covers such subjects as electronics, night fishing, jig selection, how to pick a jig, seasonal fishing methods, how to filet, & how to cook.

All in all, a pretty comprehensive guide for about the price of lunch.

Click here to get your copy of “The Crappie Fishing Handbook”

No related posts.

Many fishermen have thought about hiring a fishing guide from one time or the other.  The question most of them have is “Is hiring a fishing guide a good investment?”.  Let me start by saying that I am not a fishing guide nor do I know any personally at the time of this writing.

Traditional Cost of Hiring a Fishing Guide

But to answer to the question at hand depends greatly on what you hope to accomplish with your time with the guide.  Most guide services start at around $150 and up per half day and $250 for the whole day.  But usually you are able to add on a buddy or two for a little more and be able to split the cost, making the trip much more affordable.  However there is a maximum amount of people that the guide will allow due to the weight limits of his boat, and the ability of your party to be able to comfortably catch fish given the boat’s size.

Many fishermen get sticker shock when they first call to get a price from a fishing guide.  But break it down in practical terms.  This professional angler is going to spend 4-5 hours with you, using his boat, his gear, his bait, his gas (which is becoming increasingly more expensive), and he is even going to pay the boat launch fee.  On top of that he brings his professionalism, and knowledge of the lake.

In addition you need to factor in that the guide has to clean and put his boat up upon return.  So, on a 4 hour fishing trip, a guide has a minimum or 5 1/2 – 6 hours invested in it.  Do the math and you are essentially getting professional “tutoring” for around $30/hour, which is a bargain.

Will You Benefit from Hiring a Guide?

If you are a seasoned old veteran fisherman, you may not learn much from a fishing guide.  Although even old dogs can learn new tricks.

If you have been fishing for many years and are trying to learn a technique, then it could speed your learning curve.  Be sure to ask the guide you are looking at hiring if they know the technique you are trying to learn.  And once on the water, focus on learning that technique…not bragging about how you usually catch ‘em.

But if you are new to the sport of Crappie fishing, then probably the best thing to enhance your learning curve is to take a trip out with a guide.

Tell him your experience level and ask him what he would recommend as the best way for you to catch fish in the future.  Ask him to show you particular techniques.

If you are a newbie, this would be a good chance to ask an expert what fishing tackle he would recommend for you as well.

Hiring a Fishing Guide Doesn’t Guarantee Results

Fishing guides cannot control Mother Nature, so there is no guarantee that you will catch fish just because you hired a guide for that particular day.  You just have to approach it with the right attitude.

Unless you are on vacation down in the Caribbean on a once in a lifetime Marlin fishing expedition, a fishing guide trip is more about learning how to catch fish, rather than actually catching those fish in a particular 4 or 5 hour period.  No one can guarantee that you are going to catch Crappie, but if I had to put money on boats leaving the dock, mine would be on the fishing guide’s.

Hiring a Crappie fishing guide can be a good investment as long as you go into it with the right attitude.  Remember, it is more about learning, than necessarily catching fish.  A good trip out with a Crappie fishing guide will even put your knowledge level ahead of people who have been fishing for years.

Related posts:

1. Your Color Guide to Crappie Jigs

Building a Crappie Condo

You ever get tired of looking for good underwater structure to fish?  Why not build your own Crappie condo structure?

You may be asking “what in the world is a Crappie condo?”  Well, it is basically an assortment of pvc plumbing pipes that are put together in such a way as to provide an artificial structure that fish will flock to.  Many fisherman will employ many different elaborate designs, but the following is just a basic “how to” so that you can get back to fishing.

Building a Crappie condo is pretty easy.  Get a bunch of pvc pipes and place them in a bucket in a random manner.  But before you do, be sure to sand the pipes so that the algae will be able to collect and grow on them underneath the water.

Get a 5 gallon bucket.  Now pour the Quickcrete mixed with water in so that the bucket becomes a concrete block so to speak.  Be sure to leave the handle up so you can lower the bucket underwater without it tipping over.

When you are done, find a spot in 10 – 15 ft of water to drop your Crappie condo in.  If you made more than 1 Crappie condo, try to place them about 8-10 feet apart so you can build a nice big structure.

Here is a very good video summarizing how you could make your own Crappie condo:

Be sure to mark your spot via GPS or with some sort of landmark so that you can find it later.

If you are looking for other ideas on how to build your Crappie condo, here is another video that you can glean some more ideas from:

That should give you enough ideas on how to build a Crappie condo structure.  You don’t have to break the bank to do this.  Often you will have the stuff you need laying around the house or in the garage.

Sink a Crappie condo today, and catch more fish for years to come.

No related posts.

A new product is out specifically designed to make jig fishing much easier.  The Lindy X-Change jig system helps you change jig head color or weight, without having to cut and re-tie your line.

If the fish aren’t biting a particular color, then just change the color of the jig head by popping the old one off, and popping the new one on.  You can even choose to go with a heavier weighted jig head when you change colors.

Many fisherman are hesitant to experiment with different colors while jig fishing, due to the fact that they don’t want to have to go through the trouble of re-tying.

Lindy X-Change Jig Kit – 80 Pieces A $29.99 value!All jigheads feature Lindy’s X-Change swap-out system10 each: 1/16 and 3/8 jigheads in assorted colors20 each: 1/8 and 1/4 jigheads in assorted colors20 hooks in assorted colorsPlastic carry case to organize the whole kitThe 80-piece Lindy® X-Change Jig Kit is perfect for anglers who want it all! With four weights and a myriad of colors, this X-Change Jig Kit has something for every hungry aquatic mouth. And best of all, the X-Change Jig’s innovative yet simple design allows anglers to swap out heads without having to tie their line. A slotted, hollowed-out jighead is the key. Simply tie directly to the hook, then the hook slides in and locks into the jighead. So the next time the fish aren’t biting…change it up!. Lindy® X-Change Jig Kit – 80 Pieces

Give the Lindy X-Change jig system a try. If you like jig fishing, I know you are going to like it.

Click Here to Get Your Lindy X-Change Jig System

Related posts:

1. Your Color Guide to Crappie Jigs

I got a chance to go fishing Saturday night for a few hours.  I love Crappie fishing at night this time of year because there is virtually no boat traffic, and you’re not sweating to death because of the heat.  In a month or so, it will start to warm up a little more down here in Texas, and even the nights will be a bit warm then.

If you are an inexperienced Crappie fisherman, then sometimes you will miss the bite.  Such was the case Saturday night.

The way they were biting was that they would bump the bait, (we were using live minnows fished under lights), and then a couple of minutes later, they would start pushing the line sideways. I should also mention that we were  tight-line fishing.

Experienced Crappie fisherman know that this is a Crappie, and set the hook.  But if you don’t know what is happening, the fish will take your bait in nothing flat.  Once that line is going to the side, lift up and reel, and you’ll have your fish.

My last trip out they were biting totally different.  They would bump the line, and then there would be a bunch of slack.  When you see this slack, the Crappie has the bait in his mouth and is pushing it up.  Firmly jerk your rod and reel up, and you’ll have him hooked.

Be careful though, because when they are biting like this, they don’t always give you the “courtesy” bump first.  You’ll just look and all of a sudden have a bunch of slack.  If you are  too late, he’ll have his dinner, and you will have none.

Crappie will on occasion just hit the bait, but more often than not, they will use one of the biting methods discussed to obtain their meal.

If you are using a cork, the principle is the same.  If you see your cork heading sideways, jerk back in the opposite direction and start reeling.  Make sure that whenever you are Crappie fishing, that you do not set the hook too hard, because it will rip out of their mouths.  Many fisherman have nicknamed Crappie “papermouths” for this reason.

It can take a little practice to get the feel for how Crappie bite, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to catch all you want.

No related posts.

The spawn is on at many lakes across the southern US. The water temperatures have risen and if you can catch the conditions just right, you should be able to land a few slabs.

The #1 bait for catching Spring Crappie is without a doubt a live minnow. It has been estimated that over 50% of all Crappie are caught on live minnows. I am not totally sure of the accuracy of that quote, but I happen to believe it. The problem is that sometimes the local bait shops will run out of minnows if the fish are really biting.

Other effective live baits you can use are crickets and grub worms. Earthworms may work, but my experience has been that they are better suited for catfish, sunfish, and an occasional bass.   You can also try a cast net to catch some live bait.

Try fishing in the shallow water with a live minnow tied about 18 inches to 2 feet below the unweighted cork. Something you may try if cork fishing is to buy the plastic corks, and drill a small hole and put in a few very small split shot weights. Try casting your line out, and every now and then giving it a twitch. Spring Crappie will be curious about the rattling sound and come to check it out.

Jig fishing can also be effective for Spring Crappie, but jigs can be a bit harder in the very shallow water, unless you are dropping the jig into heavy cover. If you are against the boat dock, or on a ledge, there is no cover to hide you away from the fish. Once the spawn is over and the Crappie begin to move off shore a bit, jigging can be very effective.

Crappie are not a very aggressive fish. The males will be a bit more aggressive than the females during the spawn, but still nowhere near as aggressive as a bass would be. So it is very important to fish slow. If you cast a jig out, reel back slowly, and pause around branches and other cover to allow the bait to drop in the zone.

Spring Crappie fishing can be a blast if you catch the conditions just right. It can also be very frustrating when a front is approaching or has just passed through. Just experiment with different fishing holes and different depths to find your Spring Crappie.

Related posts:

1. Get Ready for Spring Crappie Fishing
2. Doodlesocking for Spring Crappie

Let’s face it.  None of us likes to pay taxes.  It seems that government agencies have about a million different ways to reach into our wallets.

But there is a way you can get some of those tax dollars back…..at least on your boating outings.  Have you heard about the road tax refund for marine vessels?

I had never heard of such a thing until the other day when I stopped into the local boat shop for a part for my boat, and started a conversation with the sales rep.

As you know, for every gallon of gas that you purchase, there is a state tax to fund road improvements and maintenance.  Sometimes this can be as high as 30 – 40 cents per gallon of gasoline.  But boaters don’t use roads, at least for boating.

As a result, many states are now offering boaters a chance to be reimbursed for the state road tax portion of that gallon of gas.  There is a form that you will need to file, but it could mean a couple hundred bucks a year or so.

Not all states are participating, but here are a list of states that I have been able to find out about.  If yours is not listed below, you might call your local Parks & Wildlife department to ask them which state government agency would handle such a thing as a starting point.

Here is a list of participating states to date and a click-able link to the form needed:

Alaska
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Massachusetts
Michigan
Missouri
Nebraska
North Carolina
Rhode Island
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Boaters use a lot of gas each year chasing their pleasures.  By taking advantage of this program, you can cut the cost of boat operation a little bit.  So keep those receipts.  Who knows, maybe you can save enough for that new depth finder.

No related posts.

The calender has turned to February, and if you’re itching to go fishing, then your best bet is to catch the White Bass Run.  White Bass will start their annual spawn run in the South during February.  In more Northern climates, it could be as late as April.

White Bass Swim Upstream to Spawn

White Bass will swim upstream to spawn.  The females lay their eggs in the current, and the males fertilize them as they flow downstream.  The fish will swim upstream to the very shallows to start the process.  If you can find a dam, and go fish just downstream of the dam, you should be able to find plenty of action.

What Kind of Tackle to Use

For tackle, you want to use a medium action rod, and a casting reel of your preference, with a 10 -12 lb. test line.  White Bass can pull like crazy, and will sometimes hit 2 at a time if you are fishing a tandem jig, so you want to be sure that your line can withstand that kind of pull.

It is also recommended that you make sure your line is in good shape.  Test your line before you head out.

Best Lures to Use

The White Bass will about anything thrown at them this time of year if you can catch them right.  I personally like to use either a small roadrunner, or a tandem jig set up like a Spec Rig.  Often you will get hung up fishing in the river, and Spec Rigs are cheap, so it doesn’t hurt my feelings as much to lose one of those.

Other baits you can try are anything that resembles a shad like a Rat-L-Trap, Jointed Minnow, Spoon, Rooster Tail Lure, or just use a live minnow or Shad.

Remember Your License & Size Restrictions

The White Bass Run is also popular with the Game Warden. Be sure that you keep your license with you, and that you adhere to all size & limit restrictions.

Fishing the Spring White Bass run can be a blast. If you catch one fish, you are probably going to catch 10 to 15 or more. And another bonus is that the Spring White Bass run can get a youngster hooked on fishing for life. So get out there and enjoy.

Related posts:

1. Lake Palestine White Bass a Nice Consolation Prize While Fishing for Crappie

It is important to know the conditions BEFORE you hit the water. Although it may look like a beautiful day outside now, it may turn nasty later.

Check your forecast by entering your zip code in the box below.

No related posts.

Got a chance to hit the water a couple of weeks ago.  I love fishing in December when there are not as many people on the water, and I am not sweating myself to death trying to catch a few Crappie.

It was a Saturday with temps in the 70′s, and a strong cold front coming in the afternoon.  We decided to go fishing at an area called Stubblefield Lake which is the very North tip of Lake Conroe here in Texas.  All indications were that the fishing should be good, and it was!

The wind was blowing anywhere from 10 – 20 mph from the southeast in the morning, so we went down the river channel and focused our attention on fishing a deep drop on the west side of the river.  We got to the water about 10:30 and caught several slab Crappie until about 1:00.

The wind started to shift directions from a more Northerly direction.  We kept on getting bites, although slower in frequency, so we kept fishing in the same spot.  We were fishing with live minnows and jigs by the way.

After about an hour of catching no fish, I realized that we should have moved when the wind shifted directions.  I took a look toward the bend about 200 yards down river, and noticed a bunch of bait-fish jumping around.  Now I was really  upset with myself.  Don’t you just hate it when you know you should have done something that you didn’t.  The bait-fish had moved to the windward side of the water body.

Anyway, we fired up the trolling motor so as not to spook the fish, or disturb the other anglers.  We found a good tree to tie to and threw in our lines.  Almost instantly, we were catching fish once again.  We left just before dark with a full  stringer of fish and a very good time had.

The motto of the story is to focus your  efforts on the opposite bank (windward side) from which the wind is blowing.  Had we moved to the South bank once the wind had shifted to blowing from the North, we would have even had more success.  This is especially true in the bigger lakes.

Now get out there and enjoy one of the best times of the year to go Crappie fishing.

No related posts.