OPENING CAST JANUARY 2024
Life is tough!
If you are well-rounded sportsman, not just a diehard crappie addict, winter is a confusing time of year.
One friend wants me to come and share a duck blind for a few days.
Another asked me to go deer hunting (actually I asked to go with him… but for the sake of argument…).
And still another friend says he is smokin’ winter crappie on my home lake.
Deer hunting can be painful in the fearsome cold, when the thermometer does backflips. But the sunrises are a sight to behold.
Duck hunting in the swamps can be even colder! But the sight of cupped wings drifting down toward the decoys – it gets my blood pumping just writing about it.
Destination: Bemidji, MN, by Tim Huffman
Scott MacKenthun is a CrappieNOW contributor and a Minnesota fisheries biologist. He understands better than most the lure of catching Minnesota crappie under ice. (Photo: Richard Simms) Destination: Bemidji, MN by Tim Huffman If you’re looking for an adventure to the far north – the land of wolves, northern lights, national forests and […]
From Hatchery to Hook, by Keith Lusher
Tons of crappie anglers use only artificial lures. However, most crappie anglers – amateur or professional – won’t get in the boat unless they have a bucket full of live bait. (Photo: Richard Simms) From Hatchery to Hook by Keith Lusher Shiners – they are the number one choice for baitfish across […]
Cold Crappie Warm Your Heart, by Steve McCadams
Crappie often school in cold weather and related closely to the deep sides of ledges where structure is located. Here you can see where author Steve McCadams has dropped a marker on a particular piece of structure. Cold Crappie Warm Your Heart by Steve McCadams Nothing chases away the chill like a hot […]
Crappie Basics: Black vs White, by Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor
CrappieNOW Editor Richard Simms (left) and his friend, Dickey Porter, each show off a black and white crappie. Each holds a white crappie in their right hand and a black crappie in their left hand. Crappie Basics: Black vs White by Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor This little morsel is for the very beginning crappie […]
Crappie Basics: Read the Current, by Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor
CrappieNOW Editor Richard Simms uses a drone to capture some awesome crappie-catching action, and share with you some tips on finding crappie in the current. Crappie Basics: Read the Current by Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor CrappieNOW Editor Richard Simms was out fishing solo last winter on his home water – Chickamauga Lake on the [...]
Electronics: I Spy a Brush Pile, by Brad Wiegmann
How sharp or distinct a brush piles looks on sonar can depend on your sonar imaging and settings. Generally lower kHz settings scan a larger area but with less detail. Higher kHz settings provide more detail. Side and down-imaging (right-hand images) usually help anglers more easily identify brush piles Electronics: I Spy a […]
The Great Outdoors, by Larry Whiteley
THE WINTER WARRIORS Several years ago, some friends and I started a New Year’s Day tradition. We do not sit in the warmth of our homes watching football. We go crappie fishing. Our wives and people who know us call us crazy and a few other things. That doesn’t stop us. Nothing stops us. We […]
Lure of the Month: Spangle Tinsel Jig, by Terry Madewell
Lure of the Month: Spangle Tinsel Jig by Terry Madewell Many new crappie lures on the market are soft plastic varieties, and with good reason. They are crappie killers. But there are other types of often-overlooked lures that enable anglers to hook up with crappie. One that produces consistently is the 6th Sense Spangle […]
Product Buzz, by Tim Huffman
TriPolymer by KastKing An advanced monofilament uses a triple cross head process to form KastKing’s next generation line. The three nylon layers create low light refraction very similar to Fluorocarbon. The company reports line is supple and smooth, resulting in little friction and longer casts. It’s abrasion resistance exceeds traditional monofilament and Fluoro, along with […]
Pro Angler David Walker Shares Wintertime Crappie Tips, by Cory Schmidt
David Walker has earned more than $2 million as a professional bass fisherman. But he really looks forward to his off-season when he can get back to his roots catching crappie Pro Angler David Walker Shares Wintertime Crappie Tips by Cory Schmidt The Z-Man Fishing Baby BallerZ is just one of David Walker’s [...]
CN Jan 2024 Wiring your boat
Crappie Dan talks about how to wire your new boat. 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 tips, techniques, destinations, equipment, tackle, tournaments, and the latest news from industry-leading […]
CN Jan 2024 Winter Time Baits
Crappie Dan talks about his favorite colors and baits for winter time crappie fishing. 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 tips, techniques, destinations, equipment, tackle, tournaments, and the […]