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Independence Day It was Independence Day several years ago. Yes, I still call it Independence Day, not the 4th of July. The news media and all the businesses trying to sell you something can call it the 4th of July if they want, but to me, it will always be Independence Day. A man and […]

Jerry Porter shows off the new West Virginia State Record Black Crappie he caught from East Lynn Lake. (Photo courtesy Jerry Porter)   West Virginia Black Crappie Record Broken by Bob McNally, Outdoor Life Jerry Porter and pals, Ron and Rodney Shelton, were having a banner morning of spring-spawning crappie action on West Virginia’s 1,000-acre […]

Virginia’s Tim White caught what clearly would have been a new IGFA World Record Black Crappie (in the catch-and-release category), however an IGFA technicality wouldn’t allow him to lay claim to it. (Photo courtesy Tim White)   Virginia Angler Misses IGFA Record Crappie Due to Technicality by Bob McNally, Outdoor Life Tim White, from Virginia, […]

Bella had a fun afternoon catching little fish and big fish! But as you can see in the video below, there is much more to learn on the water than just how to catch fish. (Photos: Emma Madan, CrappieNOW Social Media Team Leader)   Hooked on Happiness: The Magic of Taking Kids Fishing by Richard [...]

Brad Whitehead enjoys old-style fishing by spider rigging multiple poles. He shows the results of making a good bait presentation. (Photo courtesy Brad Whitehead)   Fireworks on the Water: Explosive Crappie Action! by Tim Huffman The temperatures are hot and so is the fishing, if you do it the right way. We spoke with three […]

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 [...]