For decades, Crappie Fishing reigned supreme as one of America’s most beloved freshwater game fish. But recently, the game has changed. Enter forward-facing sonar, a revolutionary technology that has transformed how die-hard anglers chase these elusive beauties. Its ability to unveil the fish’s whereabouts and even their real-time behavior has birthed thrilling new techniques to reel them in.
Curious about this game-changer? Whether you’re seeking tips on wielding forward-facing sonar like a pro or simply pondering its place aboard your trusty vessel. You’ll be well on your way to unlocking a whole new level of crappie-catching excitement!
What is Forward-Facing Sonar?
Forget crappie fishing in the dark – forward-facing sonar (also known as live sonar) brings your underwater world out into the light. This nifty technology earns its name from its clever trick: the transducer, mounted right on your trolling motor’s bow, beams a sonar signal forward, painting a detailed picture of what lies ahead.
But it doesn’t just cast light, it gives you control. Using your trolling motor or a trusty aftermarket mount, you can steer the sonar beam like a spotlight, making it especially handy for pinpointing crappie who’ve taken refuge in cover. With this precision targeting, landing your next catch feels less like blind luck and more like masterful underwater scouting.
How Does Forward-Facing Sonar Work?
While traditional 2D and down-imaging sonar probe the depths directly below your boat, scanning like beams of light on an MRI, side-imaging sonar casts its net wider, sending sonar whispers out to each side like curious explorers. And then there’s the ever-vigilant 360-degree sonar, its watchful eye rotating to paint a complete picture of your watery surroundings.
These traditional systems are excellent fish finders, no doubt. But where they offer a historical glance, a snapshot of what recently passed beneath the transducer, forward-facing sonar is a live feed, a real-time show of what’s unfolding before your very eyes. Think of it like a doctor’s sonogram but for the underwater world. Point the transducer, and everything within its range comes into focus: fish, baitfish, cover, structure, all dancing across the screen. See where they lurk in the water column, their distance from your boat, their every dart and dash, even their indifference (or perhaps interest?) in your tempting lure.
With forward-facing sonar, the underwater isn’t just a mystery to be unraveled. It’s a live performance, waiting to be watched, learned from, and ultimately, conquered.
Baits and Lures for Crappie Fishing
Crappie may be small, but their fight is mighty and their flavor even better. To tempt these tasty targets, you’ll need the right gear, starting with bite-sized baits and lures. Think 1 ½ to 3 inches small, whether you’re going natural or artificial.
Natural Baits:
Minnows: These wiggly snacks are like candy to crappie. Keep a bucket of lively minnows on hand, and watch your bobber dance!
Wax worms: These wriggling larvae are irresistible, especially in cooler weather when crappie are less active.
Night crawlers: Cut these into smaller pieces for bite-sized crappie treats. Their earthy scent entices even finicky fish.
Mousies and spikes: These freshwater shrimp are another natural favorite, adding a bit of variety to your crappie menu.
Artificial Lures: Crankbaits and spinnerbaits: Choose mini versions made specifically for crappie. The flash and wobble of these lures are hard to resist.
Jigs: These are the ultimate crappie lure, coming in a dizzying array of colors, sizes, and styles. Start with 1/32 to 1/8 ounce jig heads and experiment with colors like bright pink, yellow, chartreuse, and white. Don’t forget the classics like black and watermelon!
Remember, crappie are often color-conscious, so don’t be afraid to mix and match until you find what works best on your local water. With the right bait, a bit of patience, and maybe a dash of luck, you’ll be reeling in these feisty fighters in no time!
Equipment
Lighten Up on Gear:
Small baits demand petite partners. Ditch the heavy artillery and grab a spinning or spin-casting reel, paired with a light or ultra-light action rod. Aim for a length of 4 ½ to 8 feet. Don’t underestimate those “paper mouths”! Longer rods let you land them gently, minimizing torn hooks. And hey, with three rods allowed in NY, you can experiment with multiple baits at once! Double the fun, double the crappie.
Double Down on Hooks:
Speaking of multiple baits, many savvy anglers swear by running two jigs or hooks on the same line when targeting crappie. That’s two chances to snag a bite!
Line It Up:
Monofilament line gets the job done for most summer crappie. Choose a test weight between 4 and 8 pounds for a balance of strength and sensitivity.
Hook ’em Right:
For bait fishing, a trusty gold Aberdeen hook in sizes 4 to 8 is your friend. Their sharp barbs and classic bend hold tight even in those delicate crappie mouths.
Summer Crappie Secrets:
Now, let’s bust that myth for good. Sure, post-spawn crappie get sluggish in the summer heat, but they’re far from gone. Here’s where my friend’s golden nuggets come in:
Target Early A.M.: Before the sun cranks up the heat, crappie gather near shallow cover, hungry and active. Hit the water early in the morning and watch your bobbers dance!
Don’t Go Deep:
Forget diving deep. Summer crappie tend to hang out in cooler, shallower waters, often hiding around structures like docks, brush piles, and weed edges. Cast towards these shady oases and you’ll find your quarry.
Size Matters:
Downsize your presentation! In the summer bounty, crappie get picky. Tiny lures and baits (think 1 ½ – 3 inches) mimic their natural prey and entice them to strike.
Color Counts:
Don’t underestimate the power of color! Summer crappie can be surprisingly discerning. Experiment with a variety of bright colors like pink, yellow, chartreuse, and white, alongside classics like black and watermelon. You might just discover their new summer favorites!
Keep Moving:
Stagnant baits equal bored crappie. Gently jig your lures or work your bait to mimic natural movement and trigger that predatory instinct.
With these tips in your arsenal, summer crappie won’t stand a chance. So grab your light tackle, embrace the early mornings, and reel in fresh fish fries all season long! Remember, knowledge is power, and sometimes, the best fishing secrets come from sharing. Happy crappie catching!
Important Things to Note:
- Go early (and late)
- Stick with natural baits
- Downsize your line
- Downsize your lure
- Fish slow but don’t stay
- Look for dark days and water
- GO EARLY AND LATE
Forget the snooze button – summer mornings are prime time for crappie! Don’t believe me? Just ask Tony Sheppard, a crappie master who convinced me to swap midday siesta for sunrise serenades. While the cooler temps are a welcome bonus, the real magic lies in the low light. “After 10 am, it’s lights out for them,” Tony explains.
Sure, a few stragglers might nibble through midday, but the main event unfolds before the clock strikes nine. By 5:45 or 6 am, I’m armed and ready, aiming to pack three hours of pure crappie pandemonium into the pre-dawn hush. The water’s cool, the sun’s still shy, and the crappie are wide awake, breakfast on their minds.
The evening offers a shorter window, a candle flickering from 7 pm until the sun dips below the horizon at 8 pm. But there’s a secret weapon in the morning – darkness cools the water significantly, extending that low-light feeding frenzy. Plus, who can resist a sunrise serenade with a chorus of popping corks?
So ditch the midday lull and embrace the dawn’s chorus. Become an early bird and watch your creel overflow with sun-kissed crappie. Remember, Tony’s wisdom is gospel: low light equals happy crappie, and happy crappie equals happy anglers. Now get out there and make the most of those magical summer mornings!
Ditch the Flashy, Embrace the Natural
Forget the glittery plastics and gaudy lures – when it comes to summer crappie, natural is the name of the game. As seasoned angler Tony Sheppard says, “In the summer, I stick with real natural baits.” And he’s got a point.
Think about it: summer waters are teeming with tiny baitfish and bugs, offering crappie a smorgasbord of natural snacks. So, when choosing your lures, mimic what’s already on the menu. Ditch the outlandish colors and profiles, and instead, opt for baits that whisper, not scream, underwater.
Remember, less is often more in the summer heat. Keep your presentations subtle, focus on natural profiles and colors, and let the real-life buffet do the talking. With the right approach, you’ll be reeling in summer crappie like a pro!
DOWNSIZE YOUR LINES
Downsizing your line is crucial for summer crappie fishing, as Tony Sheppard emphasizes: “Lighter line throws smaller baits more naturally, and that’s what the crappie are after in the summer heat.”
Here’s a breakdown of line choices for summer crappie:
4-pound monofilament:
Pros:Throws lightweight jigs flawlessly, like the 1/16-ounce jig on a Jenko Trick Stick Light rod.
Offers more flexibility for techniques like shooting jigs.
More forgiving for delicate crappie mouths, reducing tear-offs.
Cons:Less abrasion-resistant than braid or fluoro, so be mindful of snags and structure.
6-pound fluorocarbon leader with 8-10-pound braid:
Pros: Braid’s superior sensitivity lets you feel subtle crappie bites.
Fluoro leader provides invisibility in the water, crucial for wary summer crappie.
Strong combo for fighting bigger fish or navigating snaggy cover.
Cons: Braid can be unforgiving on light jigs, potentially spooking fish with its stiffness.
Less forgiving for mistakes due to the braid’s lack of stretch.
By downsizing your line and tailoring your setup to summer crappie behavior, you’ll be casting finesse and reeling in success all season long!
DOWNSIZE YOUR LURES
During this time of year, the crappie bait diminishes in size, undergoing significant changes. Contrary to the conventional belief of being bold and standing out with the bait, it appears that with crappie, less is more.
“This time of year puts immense pressure on the fish, making them exceptionally finicky,” Sheppard noted. “More so than any other season. While occasionally, you can still entice a fish with sizable 1/4-ounce jigs swiftly moving through the water, most of the time it involves using 1/16-ounce or lighter options and adopting a slow fishing approach.”
Primarily, this entails transitioning from 1/8-ounce to 1/16 or 1/32-ounce heads and opting for smaller plastics or hair jigs compared to the ones employed during spring when the fish were actively feeding and vigorously defending spawning areas.
Sheppard shared, “A personal favorite of mine is the Jenko Big T Mermaid Jig, but come summer, I make the switch to the smaller Jenko Little Mermaid Jig.”
FISH SLOW AND LEAVE
To enhance your success in late summer fishing, it’s crucial to adopt a slow and patient approach. Despite the warm water temperatures, the fish are less inclined to actively pursue prey during this period. While they may make quick moves, they prefer not to cover a long distance to engage with a jig. Consequently, it becomes imperative to present the jig persistently in front of them.
According to Sheppard, the key is to reel the jig at an exceptionally slow pace. By utilizing a lighter jig, lighter line, and maintaining a deliberate reeling speed, you can effectively target the same depth range that heavier jigs achieved during the spring.
Moreover, Sheppard suggests a strategic technique to induce a reaction from crappie fishing without making significant movements. Instead of physically relocating the jig, a subtle pop and momentary flutter can break a crappie out of its trance, prompting a reaction. The goal is not to jerk the jig forcefully, causing it to move away from the fish, but rather to momentarily alter its action, enticing the crappie to respond. This technique, referred to as “moving it without moving it,” can be achieved by incorporating a stutter or flutter into the jig’s motion, creating a brief disruption to capture the crappie’s attention.
LOOK FOR DARK DAYS AND WATERS
During the sweltering dog days of summer, many anglers find crappie fishing less enjoyable as the fish recover from spring and early summer pressures, becoming lethargic in response to hotter water temperatures and increased angling pressure. While some anglers typically abandon crappie fishing between November and April, a friend, an adept crappie angler, shared invaluable tips that transformed my summer pursuits and led to more successful fish fries for my family. Here are six tips I acquired for catching crappie during the hotter summer months.
Fish Depth Adjustments: In scenarios like fishing in deep trees, where two poles are allowed in Illinois, employ slip bobber rigs at a depth of approximately 30 feet. If there are no bites after 10-15 minutes, progressively adjust one pole’s slip knot to 14 feet and the other to 16 feet. Continue adjusting until bites occur, and once successful, set both poles at the depth where you get a bite. Frequent bait changes are essential to keep it fresh and lively.
Consider Spring Conditions: In early spring, particularly around April 20th & 21st, crappie and bluegill remain in deep water until the water warms and weeds emerge. Seek them out in fish cribs, brush piles, or submerged trees. If catching bluegill while targeting crappie, fish slightly deeper.
Adapt to Water Conditions: Be mindful of water conditions. During periods of little rain, the NMZ (No Motor Zone) and fish cribs are ideal for bluegill and crappie. Conversely, after substantial rain or if the lake is murky due to rain or wind, focus on fishing in the deep trees.
Shabbona Lake is currently experiencing a remarkable crappie surge, attributed to a strong spawning class in 2009 and 2010. These 2-3-year-old crappie are growing rapidly, averaging around 10-11 inches and promising excellent catches for anglers.
You are Now Ready to Go!
So there you have it! With a little preparation, the right gear, and some helpful tips, you’re all set to reel in your first crappie this weekend. Remember, crappie fishing is a thrilling and rewarding experience that anyone can enjoy. Get out there, explore the water, and feel the tug of a fighting crappie on your line. You might just surprise yourself with your skills! Now, who’s ready to go crappie catchin’?
Check out this blog about Master Your Casting: 5 Advanced Fishing Rods Techniques before your Crappie Fishing trip!
