Tips for Locating Crappie

Here are some tips for locating crappie. Crappie are generally considered one of the better tasting fish and at times they can be caught quickly in large numbers. But at other times it seems that crappie can't be found at all. While the best tip for locating crappie is to simply fish as much as possible and learn from experience in your local water, here are some tips that can be used to help locate crappie when an agler can't spend an entire week on the water.

Tips for Locating Crappie - Fish Near Coves and Creek Mouths

After the spawn, look for crappie to be just outside of coves, creek mouths, and other likely spawning areas where the water gets deep. Areas where the shallow water meets the deeper river or lake channel is an ideal place to find summer time crappie. Any structure in this area should be carefully fished for crappie.

Tips for Locating Crappie - Look for Submerged Cover

When an angler finds submerged structure on a lake or river via a fish finder or other resource (like getting snagged in it) chances are good that there are fish near the structure. Once the structure has been found anglers can use jigs, small crank baits, and live minnows and other lures and baits and see what they can catch. Crappie won't be the only fish to use the structure and you might catch bass or other game fish.

Tips for Locating Crappie - Cover a lot of Area

Sometimes nothing seems to work in finding crappie where they might be expected. Using small crank baits, curly tail jigs, and other lures that can fished quickly, an angler can cover a lot of water and then move on. After the cast, vary the time the lure is allowed to fall before retrieving to cover different depths. Some crappie will get missed this way but when the lake or river isn't crowded and an angler can move from location to location, this method can help him or her locate crappie.

Tips for Locating Crappie - Watch the Water

Keep an eye out in the water for prey fish. If an angler finds an area of the water filled with tasty little fish, chances are the crappie will be nearby. Try to match your lures or bait to the natural food in the water.

Tips for Locating Crappie - Use Bait

If all else fails, grab a rod or 6 and cast minnows at different depths to different areas and relax. The crappie haven't gone anywhere and sooner or later one will nab one of the minnows. Even if you don't catch crappie, a bass or a fat bluegill will often end up on your hook.