Know Crappie to Catch Crappie

They’re an exemplary species to target for both beginner and experienced anglers alike. Fishing for crappie is an excellent way to introduce children to lure fishing, while offering the experienced angler an enjoyable sport.

     There are two species of crappie, the white crappie, and the black crappie. Both are often referred to as papermouths or for larger ones, Slabs! To catch slabs, we must know crappie! Knowing characteristics, preferred habitat, diet, and seasonal habits of both species play a vital role in consistently catching crappie.

     Two Species:

Both species can look similar but there are differences to tell them apart. The white crappie will have vertical bands of black down its sides, while the black crappie will have black blotches randomly scattered on its side. White crappie has 5 or 6 spines on their dorsal fins, and blacks will have 7 or 8. The body and mouths also differ between the two species. The white crappie having an elongated body with larger mouth compared to the black crappie.

     Preferred Habitats

Both species of crappie can be found in the same bodies of water, but rarely do they school together. There is hybrid crappie though, that will have some characteristics of both species. The black crappie prefers cooler clear deep water with aquatic vegetation as opposed to the white crappie that prefer shallower open water that offers vertical natural, or man-made structures.  White crappie usually hang out in larger schools and can withstand warmer water.

          Diet

All crappie share the same food preferences. Minnows and other gamefish fry being the largest part of their diets. They also eat insects, small amphibians and to a lesser extent crawdads and worms. Crappie are most actively feeding near dusk and dawn. Nighttime is also a good time to catch crappie, but during the midday they usually feed less. An exception to this is during the colder months when the sun warms the water some.

     Seasonal Habits

Crappie will migrate depending on water temperatures and seasons. Knowing these patterns will be key to consistent and successful fishing trips.

          Spring

                Spring is arguably the best time for catching a lot of crappie. During the early spring (40°-50°F water temperatures) crappie will still be in deeper water from the winter but start moving and feeding more. “Pre-spawn” (50°-61°F water temperatures) is when things really get fun! This is the time crappie start to gorge themselves after the cold winter months and begin preparing for their spawn. They start moving towards the shallows to search for soft sandy, or gravel bottoms to make their spawning nest. Stream entrances are excellent this time of year. The spawning starts when water temps reach 62°-66°F and can last for a few weeks. During this time the males will be guarding and fanning the nests. The females will hangout in nearby cover.

          Summer

                During summer months crappie will disperse and move towards deeper water during the day, although will come to the shallows to feed in the early morning and late evening hours. Deep weeds or drop-offs are a prime location for summertime crappie to suspend themselves and stay cool. 

          Fall

                Early fall (55°-65°F water temperatures)  is another fantastic time to target crappie. They will start moving and transitioning back into larger schools. While getting prepared for winter the bite will become aggressive again. Between the shallows and drop-offs are good areas to find crappie in early fall. Towards the end of fall (water temps below 50°) crappie will move again to deeper water and their metabolism will start slowing down for the winter months.

          Winter

                During the winter months crappie still eat of course, but they will not be nearly as aggressive. A lot of the times schools an be found in deep brush or near the bottom of the body of water. Many ice fishers in northern states will target crappie when the lakes are frozen over. Schools of crappie will still roam in search of food, and will follow the same patch fairly closely. If you’re ice fishing and the bite is good, but suddenly stops. There’s a good chance that same school will come back around eventually.

     Crappie Gear, Baits, and Techniques

Understanding crappie and their habits is only part of knowing how to catch them. The correct gear and techniques used paired with that knowledge will have you reaching creel limits and landing slabs in no time.

          Ultra-Light Gear

                Ultra-light gear offers the finesse and sensitivity needed to feel the fish, and allows the casting of small jigs and lures. The fun it offers landing that giant slab is also a huge bonus!

          Crappie poles

                You may have seen those really long poles with tiny reels at your local tackle shop. These are mainly used to jig for crappie. They allow the angler to stay away from the targeted area and cover ensuring you don’t spook the fish. Crappie poles are an excellent way to jig up and down in the middle of brush and cover also.

          Baits and Techniques

Weather, season, time, and location all play vital roles in crappie bait and techniques. The color of these baits will also make a difference. Crappie do see color and are sight feeders, but their preference may change by the hour it seems. I’ve found most chartreuse combination color patterns work well. Choose lighter colors in clear water and brighter colors in stained to pair with the chartreuse. Solid colors do perform well too. Solid whites, yellows, and pinks are often favorites.

          Minnows and a bobber – This is a great technique to catch a lot of crappie and it works year round. Once you’ve determined where the fish are simply adjust your bobber height so the minnow will swim around above the crappie.

          Jig/jig head with a grub and a bobber- One of my favorite rigs and is perfect when introducing new anglers to lure fishing. Adjust your bobber like you would with the minnow rig. Cast out past your target location. Then let the bait settle and start a slow stop and go retrieve.

          In-line spinners and spinnerbaits – Tiny spinnerbaits and smaller incline spinners are great for covering water fast and locating fish. These are also good when crappie are aggressively feeding in the spring and early fall.

          Jigs – A very popular option for crappie, jigs allow you to fish in cover. Jigs are normally fished up and down instead of casting and retrieving. Marabou style jigs are an excellent option for crappie. It’s also important to note when tying your jig on your line to position the know so the jig is horizontal in the water. Jigs mimic baitfish, and I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a baitfish swim head up, tail down! Keep your jig above the crappie while jigging it, dropping it through a school and back up can spook the fish.

          Small crankbait - Crankbaits are usually used when targeting larger crappie or in open warmer water. Some anglers will slowly troll crankbaits to search for schools or the lone crappie in summer. Summertime crankbaits can land some big fish!

          Spider rigging – This one, I have no personal experience with so can and will not go into depth. It’s a popular option in states that allow an angler to have multiple poles in the water. Basically it’s a lot of poles with different lures, colors, and set at different depths that are trolled from a boat.

     Whether you are a beginner crappie angler or experienced they are fun to catch! Targeting them for food or sport is a great way to get outside and enjoy nature in the “crappiest” of ways!  

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