Crappie
Beginners Guide To Catching Crappie From The Bank
Nov
Catching crappie from the shore can be just as lucrative as a boat. There are times where I’ve actually out fished boats thanks to my presentations and tips I will share here.
Learning How To Catch Crappie From The Shore
Fishing can be a rich man’s game. At most lakes around the country, pull into any boat ramp parking lot and you’ll see a combination of bass boats hitched up to beautiful tow vehicles that can run in excess of $150,000.00!! Don’t get angry as most of them have worked very hard and have rewarded themselves nearing retirement. There are others who are struggling to make those payments and when high gas prices hit will be forced to garage it.
With Bank fishermen our budgets are usually more moderate. We are just as passionate about our craft and can’t wait to catch a mess to drop in that hot grease because slaw, beans, onions, and hushpuppies still need that white flaky crispy breaded fish fillet to make the perfect fold over sandwich! And what better fish to catch from the shore than crappie?
Why Choose Crappie When Fishing From The Bank?
Crappie are one of the easiest targets for shore fishermen. They populate really quickly growing up to ten inches in less that 5 years from hatch. They’re an aggressive fish that will travel in large schools and seek out small shad, minnows, and insects that come right up to the bank in ultra shallow water.
They are also a four season fish! I’ve caught them when the temperatures were over a hundred degrees right on down to ten above a sheet of ice. In fact my favorite time to fish for them stretches from November through February when they seem to be thickest. In this article I’m going to discuss the best places to fish in conjunction with the season and offer up tips that have lead to my success.
What Is My Setup For Crappie Fishing From The Shore?
I’ve had many rod and reel combos over my life. I can remember using my fathers underspin that had the ugliest yellow, two piece rod you could imagine but guess what…It worked! When I was ready for an upgrade my grandfather bought me a lightning rod for my birthday and that one lasted me up until I was close to 20.
My combination now that I make my own money is a Lew’s Reel along with a Gloomis rod. Yes the combo is expensive but it will last me over 20 years since they are well kept and dependable! If you can’t afford it at this time don’t worry! There are many combos you can buy for under $100.00 that will give you years of dependable fishing.
Next is baits…
I keep a combination of curly tail and stinger jigs on hand mostly with jig heads ranging in weight between 1/32oz up to 1/8oz. Color combos are endless. I use painted jig heads mostly so that I can broaden out the color pattern. The main colors used are…EVERY COLOR PATTERN YOU CAN MAKEUP
Crappie’s preference in color will change with every season and sometimes even by the hour. Nobody understands why but that’s the reason we have some many choices when it comes to jigs on the market.
Don’t forget to have a couple of different sized corks/bobber with you. They can come in really handy when crappie fishing!
My Presentations For Crappie When Fishing From The Shore
Popping A Bobber works really well especially if you’re fishing new water and aren’t sure of the depth. Attach a small cork to your line then tie a 1/32oz jig head and pick a color out of your tackle box. Right now we haven’t established the top color so start off with a combo that would look most like a minnow. Unless you know the exact depth of water you’re fishing start out with about 18 inches between jig and cork. Cast out as far as you can and begin retrieving by popping the cork back to you. This is the most deadly around the spawn but can really work anytime.
Casting And Retrieving is my preferred method to catch crappie from the bank and it works year round. Use a 1/16oz jig head and match it with a Shelton’s Curly Tail. These baits work the absolute best for this presentation due to the fast action on the tail. Cast out as far as you can letting the jig get to the bottom. You’ll know once your line goes slack that you can begin your retrieve. Raise your rod tip high to lift the jig off the bottom and slowly retrieve the bait back to you, slightly popping your rod tip to entice fish that are following. If the fish are stubborn and hugging the bottom then keep your rod tip low but be prepared for a few extra snags.
Tightlining is used when you’re able to fish from a boat slip or dock. This is the method most used by boaters and involves hanging one or two jigs on your line and then vertically jigging them up and down. Start out on the bottom and work your way up. Often times I get bit when it looks like I’m bringing the jigs up then suddenly drop them down to just above the bottom imitating a dying minnow.
Spring Time Crappie Fishing From The Shore
Spring is by far the easiest time to catch crappie from the shore. Once the water temperature reaches 60 degrees females will swim up to the shallowest water where cover is readily available. They then drop their eggs leaving the males to aggressively defend the nest. It’s at this time that I will use the bobber method. You can cast out well away from the structure to cutoff any incoming crappie. It’s at this time you could get bit at any given moment. It’s also at this time I prefer to only keep what I’m going to eat as to not have a negative impact on future fish populations.
Laydowns, riprap, stumps, and buckbrush are all excellent locations to start your search but don’t neglect docks! All jigs work well at this time but colors can still be honed in on. Even when the females leave, the males will continue to guard for weeks.
Summer Time
Summer is by far the most difficult time of year to catch crappie from the bank. Fish are exhausted from the spawn and will move out to deep water where they can rest and feed. Those productive areas from the previous month are now ghost towns. It’s time to change up your locations. If you’re fortunate enough to have access to a deep dock or boat slip you should start here. Use the vertical jigging pattern.
Next is you need to find the deepest water you can cast to. Usually this means along a dam, bridge, or spillway. Use the casting presentation and stick to the low light hours of the day. The first two hours in the morning and the last two hours of the evening will be your best bet as high suns will consolidate crappie deep into brush making them near impossible to catch.
Fall
Right about the time the clocks get set back an hour is when things start getting easy again. Crappie are in an absolute feeding frenzy building up energy storages to last them throughout the winter. Those spring hot spots will now come to life again. This is also a time that mud flats and riprap will be hot as baitfish will seek the last remaining warmth and crappie will be right on their tails.
Casting is still my preferred method but the cooler it gets the better you odds of getting away with a bobber. While morning and evenings can be productive, I’ve had just as much luck during mid day, especially if it’s cloudy out.
Winter
We are finally at the most overlooked season to catch crappie from the bank. Winter is a hybrid of fall and summer when it comes to their location and willingness to bite. Believe it or not the first and last hours on the coldest days will bring you incredible action if you happen to be around the fish. They just seem to crush baits as soon as you drop your jig in front of them!
I stick to the same three spots that I fished in summer but will also hit these up at midday because the sun isn’t so high in the sky to push the fish downwards. Just remember to keep warm!
In Conclusion
I was a bank fisherman for the first 18 years of my life and believe me when I tell you a boat is not at all necessary when you’re learning how to catch crappie. When you set out just understand that you will make mistakes and you will get hung up. Don’t get discouraged just because your first or second outing didn’t land you any fish. If it were easy then anyone could do it. Once you start to put together the puzzle and land that first papermouth he won’t be the only one hooked. Half of fishing is a science which anyone can learn but the other half is art.
