Favorite Crappie Bait/Lure? With Spring Crappie Fishing coming up, I was starting to stock up on crappie gear. I usually don't target them much, but when I do catch them, I know to...

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

With Spring Crappie Fishing coming up, I was starting to stock up on crappie gear. I usually don't target them much, but when I do catch them, I know to keep and eat them! One of the best tasting fresh water fish around, along with walleye and yellow perch, in my opinion :-)
I have caught them with Kast Masters and Rapala Countdowns, but want to try jigs for them as well.

So, what is your favorite gear to catch Spring Crappie with?

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

My go to was always a #5 Rapala, but the most productive is still a crappie minnow on a #6 hook below a slip bobber. I have picked up a selection of Kalin’s crappie scrubs to try, but have yet to try them.

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

OJdidit wrote:

My go to was always a #5 Rapala, but the most productive is still a crappie minnow on a #6 hook below a slip bobber. I have picked up a selection of Kalin’s crappie scrubs to try, but have yet to try them.

Yeah, Those Rapalas will catch everything! I have yet to fish a jig, especially under a bobber. Do you use a bobber stop when you do use one?

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Agreed minnow is best all around
Strike king has a series of crappie gear that works pretty good
Mr Crappie is what I think they call it.
The joker trailers are pretty good
Old standby crappie tubes catch em.
In summer when they school deep , I like rapala jigging raps. We catch em 40 ft deep with these.
When these aren’t producing fast enough , we drop shot live minnow
deep
The picture is a 2 man limit caught on jigging raps in 28 ft of water

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

Ben Bragg wrote:

Agreed minnow is best all around
Strike king has a series of crappie gear that works pretty good
Mr Crappie is what I think they call it.
The joker trailers are pretty good
Old standby crappie tubes catch em.
In summer when they school deep , I like rapala jigging raps. We catch em 40 ft deep with these.
When these aren’t producing fast enough , we drop shot live minnow
deep
The picture is a 2 man limit caught on jigging raps in 28 ft of water

Nice catch there, Ben! I'll have to try some Rapala Jigs too :-)

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Elefantdude wrote:

Yeah, Those Rapalas will catch everything! I have yet to fish a jig, especially under a bobber. Do you use a bobber stop when you do use one?

If I am using a slip bobber, yes. If I am fishing shallow I will just us a small spring bobber.

Adrian

After ice out here in Minnesota I always use a small jig and a minnow. Colors change I start with white and change its not working. If you have a partner have them try a different type color. 🛶

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

OJdidit wrote:

If I am using a slip bobber, yes. If I am fishing shallow I will just us a small spring bobber.

I'll have to learn to use a slip bobber. They are still deep :-)

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

Adrian wrote:

After ice out here in Minnesota I always use a small jig and a minnow. Colors change I start with white and change its not working. If you have a partner have them try a different type color. 🛶

How small do you go on your jigs, Adrian?

Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

Dang Ben I want to go with you, nice catch. A Bobby Garland on a small jig head works well around docks and wood. They'll catch them under a cork also.

nhuanvu

1 inch Gulp Minnows on 1/32 jig under drop shot or bobber or slip bobber , slow motion is guaranteed catches of fat slabs

MAS fish Loc: Peoria,IL

Elefantdude wrote:

With Spring Crappie Fishing coming up, I was starting to stock up on crappie gear. I usually don't target them much, but when I do catch them, I know to keep and eat them! One of the best tasting fresh water fish around, along with walleye and yellow perch, in my opinion :-)
I have caught them with Kast Masters and Rapala Countdowns, but want to try jigs for them as well.

So, what is your favorite gear to catch Spring Crappie with?

This is my go to equipment if you are able to troll.
I call it lazy-man fishing and looking forward to it this spring. Use these and you might find some spots before your eyes like these.
MAS fish

I just love crappie lol

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

MAS fish wrote:

This is my go to equipment if you are able to troll.
I call it lazy-man fishing and looking forward to it this spring. Use these and you might find some spots before your eyes like these.
MAS fish

I just love crappie lol

Sweet! You got quite the collection of jigs, MAS!!! So you troll with jigs? How slow do you go? Under 1mph?

MAS fish Loc: Peoria,IL

Elefantdude wrote:

Sweet! You got quite the collection of jigs, MAS!!! So you troll with jigs? How slow do you go? Under 1mph?

I tend to vary speed a little but pretty much troll at 3/4 to 1&1/4 mph. I tend to work an area quite hard with several passes at different speeds so the jigs will run at different depths. I also run a lot of figure 8 patterns around my lake until they are located. I also tend to change between 1/16 & 1/32 ounce jigs in different colors as you could see. Then I am not afraid to change the grub colors either. I got a pic from my fishin buddy today of a new color he just made and is anxious to try when we get soft water again.
MAS fish

Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

MAS fish wrote:

I tend to vary speed a little but pretty much trol... (show quote)

I've trolled for Crappie in the spring, not to common in my area but it does and can put you on schooling fish quicker than casting. We'd put two lawn chairs in the back of the boat where my wife and son would sit and Id be i in the front and run the trolling motor with 4 to 6 rod spider rig. We'd catch a lot of crappie like that especially on sunny days when the crappie were holding shallow over deeper water. I've seen a guide with two clients put 30 crappie in the boat in a couple hours or less using that method.