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Crappie Dreams It is a beautiful late Spring morning. The rising sun reflects on the water. Birds are singing. An eagle watches me from his perch on an old dead tree. Deer are at the edge of the lake for a morning drink. I see no other fishermen. I have the water all to myself. […]

Visiting anglers look forward to the St. Croix Customer Appreciate Day. “We have anglers who make the trip to Park Falls (Wisconsin) every year, plus hundreds of new visitors each year,” said St. Croix Vice President of Sales, Steve Self. “They come from all over the country and from overseas, too.” Crappie Basics: St. Croix […]

Kendall Frederick, otherwise known as KFRED, has developed fishing rods, reels and crappie jigs. But the newest products in his merchandising arsenal are Cajun-style seasonings and fish fry batter.   Crappie Basics: KFRED Seasoning & Fish Batter by Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor Like so many entrepreneurs these days, Kendall Frederick’s business venture was born on […]

Imagine a sweet spot totally hidden away and inaccessible to skiers or cruisers, yet teeming with crappie. You may not know it, but there might be such a place just a cast away from your front door.   Unknown Lakes That You Should Know by Richard Hines Several years ago, I was visiting my son […]

Every crappie angler knows that brushpiles and fallen treetops are prime places to find lots of crappie. However, not all brushpiles are created equal – meaning they shouldn’t always be fished the same way. (Image courtesy Nexus Outdoors)   Dissecting Brushpiles by Tim Huffman It is really no secret to any crappie angler that the […]

The view of the crystal-clear Dale Hollow Lake from one of the rooms at Cedar Hill Marina. Known best for its smallmouth bass fishing, many people don’t know that Dale Hollow is also a crappie hotspot. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)   Destination: Dale Hollow – Slaying Slabs by Rob Somerville Would you like to […]

In a candid interview, Blake Phillips, the creator of the Eye Hole Jig, shares how the idea for his unique jig began with a frustrated wife and a drill press. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)     Eye Hole Jig Creator (Almost) Tells All by Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor The CrappieNOW and CatfishNOW teams recently [...]

BUFORD AND BO Buford and Bo live up the road from me. They are inseparable. You don’t see one without the other. Buford is Bo’s best friend and an old farmer. Bo is Buford’s best friend – a cross between a cocker spaniel and a beagle. Buford’s wife passed away a few years ago. They […]

Chasing crappie, catching sunrises. The Rez is a sight to behold at dawn, and there’s no better way to start the day. (Photo: Explore Ridgeland) Destination: Get Hooked on Ridgeland, MS by Explore Ridgeland That’s the pull you wait for. Rod bent, reel turning, and another crappie coming home. (Photo: Explore Ridgeland) If you're looking [...]

  Author Madalyn Roberts is understandably all smiles during her first-ever experience at the Brushpile Fishing Academy. (Photo: Madalyn Roberts)   Brushpile Fever by Madalyn Roberts When we talk about “crappie school,” one would usually assume we are talking about a bunch of fish hanging out around their favorite brushpile. But today we’re talking about […]

The Tough Life of an Outdoor Communicator More than 40 years ago I was selling advertising at a local radio station to support my family. The station manager knew I liked to hunt and fish. He asked me if I would like to start doing a weekly outdoor show. He even offered to pay me […]

Lure of the Month: G-Daddy Baits Hybrid by Terry Madewell I rarely encounter a unique crappie fishing bait with such a competitive, creative, and flourishing crappie lure market. The need for a particular bait to fill a niche between two options created a need for a new crappie fishing lure to develop: a hybrid lure. […]