OPENING CAST APRIL 2024
Spring is my favorite time of year, especially for the crappie fishing. Although some days may not feel like spring, overall nature tells us the warming conditions are bringing all things to life in the great outdoors. In many of my seminars and shows, many ask for the best indicators, timing, structures and locations to catch those monsters this time of year. [READ MORE]
Beating the Bushes, by Keith Sutton
Spawning crappie often move to shallow water deep within dense vegetation. Pulling a small boat beyond the edge allows fishing these seldom-touched honeyholes. (Photo: Keith Sutton) Beating the Bushes by Keith Sutton Folks who enjoy crappie fishing usually love springtime. It’s during this season, when our favorite panfish move to shallow shoreline waters to spawn, […]
Choosing the Right Jig Tail & Blade, by Tim Huffman
Kris Mann says it’s important to match your jig tail to the technique you’re using. The right action will lead to good success as displayed here. Choosing the Right Jig Tail & Blade by Tim Huffman No one jig is perfect for every situation. A tail with good action today may be terrible tomorrow. […]
Muddy Water Won’t Stop Your Crappie-Catching, by Ron Wong
Crappie actually cannot see any better than you can in muddy water. However, they have highly developed sensory organs you don’t have. And those organs lead them to food, or to your lures or bait. (Photo: Ron Wong) Muddy Water Won’t Stop Your Crappie-Catching by Ron Wong It is true – April showers […]
Crappie Basics: Power Trolling, by Tim Huffman
Les Smith power trolling rig is outfitted with a 36-volt Minn Kota that can handle long hours of high-speed trolling for crappie. Crappie Basics: Power Trolling by Tim Huffman Power trolling resembles slow trolling or spider rigging, except speeds are much faster and usually the baits are bigger. It uses 14-18-foot poles to push crankbaits, […]
Lure of the Month: TTI Blakemore Crappie X Tractor, by Terry Madewell
Lure of the Month: TTI Blakemore Crappie X Tractor by Terry Madewell If you’re searching for a lure that catches more and bigger crappie, but snags less on heavy cover, you’ve got to read this right now! A crappie lure initially released in 2022 that proved to be a crappie-catching machine in pre-release testing, has […]
Electronics: Catch More Fish with Radial Grid Lines, by Brad Wiegmann
Garmin’s Perspective View radial grids look like this without a sonar image. (Photo by Brad Wiegmann) Electronics: Catch More Fish with Radial Grid Lines by Brad Wiegmann Everyone goes on and on about catching fish using forward facing sonar (FFS), but it’s almost always about the forward-facing mode. What about the other two modes? […]
Forward-Facing Sonar Survey Follow-up, by Richard Simms
More and more boats have a forward-facing sonar on the vow these days, but exactly how many? CrappieNOW Editor Richard Simms set out to find some answers himself but it seems some researchers are finding different results. (Photo: Richard Simms) Forward-Facing Sonar Survey Follow-up by Richard Simms Last month I (CrappieNOW Editor Richard Simms) […]
Navigating the Challenge of Selecting Sonar, by Steve McCadams
Nowadays professional crappie angler and guide Steve Coleman outfits the front of his boat with a Garmin Livescope and a Humminbird 360 unit. (Photo: Steve McCadams) Navigating the Challenge of Selecting Sonar by Steve McCadams It doesn’t matter if you are a professional fisherman or if you are a first-time boater. A sonar unit […]
The Great Outdoors, by Larry Whiteley
WHAT WILL YOU LEAVE BEHIND YOU WHEN YOU GO? I was driving to the lake to meet a friend to go crappie fishing. A song called Three Wooden Crosses came on the radio. It describes four passengers riding on a bus in the dark of night on the way to their destination. There was a […]
CN How To Replace Line April 2024
CN Tip of the Month Replace Worn Line Crappie Dan talks about keeping you line fresh and you won’t loose fish do to line breaks. Check out more fishing resources at crappienow.com! CrappieNOW is an unequaled online-only crappie fishing magazine aimed at passionate crappie anglers from all skill levels. Readers can search for information on […]
CN How To Magnet Organizer April 2024
CN Tip of the Month Magnet Organizer Crappie Dan talks about organizing his jig with a magnet attached to his double seat. Check out more fishing resources at crappienow.com! CrappieNOW is an unequaled online-only crappie fishing magazine aimed at passionate crappie anglers from all skill levels. Readers can search for information on new crappie fishing […]