Fishing in Oklahoma: Crappie

In Oklahoma it is that time of year again: tornado weather and crappie spawning season. You can catch crappie in Oklahoma year round, but the best time is in the spring when the crappie move closer to the banks to lay their eggs. Crappie meat is some of the best fish in my opinion because it is white meat. If you are familiar with crappie fishing then you already know that the crappie like areas that provide cover and shade. You will not generally catch crappie in the middle of a lake during spawning season for two reasons: no coverage and no shade.

In order to start crappie fishing you will need many items in your tackle box. If you plan on fishing with artificial bait you will need many jig hooks with 1/8 ounce jig heads. Some of the best jig heads that I have ever used are the two toned painted round jig heads which can be bought at your local Wal-Mart, Bass Pro Shop, or any tackle and bait store near Eufaula, Oklahoma. You will also need a variety of colored tube baits. Some of the best colors for Oklahoma include: red & white, pink & white, yellow & white, plain white, black & pink, black & green, and black & white. Another good addition to tackle is Panfish Assassins in silver and silver & black. If you need a picture to help you show you the type of tackle I am discussing please review the one is attached for you.

If you are going to use live bait, you will need a little different tackle. You should have crappie gold hooks; a great brand is Mr. Crappie Gold Hooks. You should also have floats or bobbers, but make sure you buy the ones made out of foam as they have fewer problems. You will also need a minnow bucket for when you purchase your live bait. The best kind of minnow bucket is the type made of galvanized steel. If you are planning on fishing in Eufaula Lake which is a local crappie hot spot, you can buy tackle at various stores because many convenience stores sell bait. Our favorite stores to by minnows are Longtown Citgo and Evergreen Convenience Store. The best place to fish for crappie in Oklahoma that I have found is Eufaula Lake. The best places to in Eufaula Lake are around the rip rap, off banks by the dam and other spots around the lake that provide coverage, and the top one is underneath the bridges on Interstate 40, Highway 69, and Highway 9. If you are prepared for crappie fishing, you will have one of the best times of your life. They are fun to catch and excellent