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Paddlin’ with Madalyn—The Importance of Using a Kayak Safety Checklist Photos and Story By Madalyn Roberts I’ve been crappie fishing out of my NuCanoe Frontier 12 kayak for several seasons now, and while I wish I could proclaim every trip out on the water goes off without a hitch, that would be a far cry […]

A quick trip before work turned unforgettable when Jesse Miller landed this massive 4.27-pound hybrid crappie from Ohio’s Great Miami River. (courtesy of Jesse Miller) Ohio Angler Lands Record Hybrid Crappie By Keith Sutton What started as a quick fishing trip before work turned into a catch that has rewritten Ohio’s record books. On April […]

Right where it belongs—proof that a Road Runner, fished slow or worked just right, is hard for any crappie to resist. (Photo by Keith Sutton) Crappie Basics: Fishing a Road Runner By Keith Sutton Bert Hall, the Missouri Ozarks stream fisherman who invented the Blakemore Road Runner spinner, also crafted the wise slogan, “You can’t […]

Dale Hollow guide Corey Thomas finds crappie in submerged trees and brushpiles. He stays back from the cover, uses a lightweight hair jig and lets the jig fall to just above the cover before starting his slow retrieve. He says it can be a year-round tactic by concentrating on cover at the right depth for […]

Captain Jake Futia said crappie are available all year, but anglers must follow their seasonal movements. Summertime Slabs Story and photos by Terry Madewell Hot summer weather often leaves crappie anglers reflecting on productive spring fishing when the annual crappie migration to the shallows to spawn was underway. Warming water had crappie active and usually […]

The floor of Ronnie Capps’ boat is littered with some of his most-used B’n’M fishing rods. He advises, however, that targeting fish using the Ambush rod is his favorite method of fishing these days. The diamond pattern on the rod reduces the chance of water causing the rod pieces to stick together, making the Ambush […]

Action Glow Cups  Action Glow Cups were created by a Utah angler with a mind for figuratively building a better mouse trap. Anyone who fishes after dark or in low light conditions with glowing jigs knows how important it is to have a jig charger. Most chargers require you to turn them on, or drop [...]

Paddlin’ with Madalyn: Targeting Postspawn Crappie from a Kayak Photos and Story By Madalyn Roberts As crappie head to deeper water after the spring spawn, that’s the most opportune time for a new kayak angler to determine their preferred technique of fishing. During this postspawn period, anglers can fish just about any way they prefer […]

Senior writer Tim Huffman knows that small structural changes often attract slab crappie. That one-foot drop, that hidden ditch, that barely noticeable edge—that’s where big spring crappie like this stack up. Learn how to find them and you’ll catch more fish, plain and simple. Crappie Basics: Tips for Shallow Spring Fishing Photo and Story by […]

Brad Chappel is a pulling expert who focuses on Mississippi lakes. His setup for pulling jigs is an efficient and effective way to pull. Three Tactics for Non-Forward-Facing Sonar Crappie Photos and Story by Tim Huffman Forward-facing sonar is efficient and a great tool for catching crappie. However, not everybody wants to spend all day […]

Dropping a 1/8-ounce jig in front of a desert reservoir slab crappie has been a specialty of Randy Howton. His love for crappie fishing and taking others out started after the passing of his father and many hours dedicated to perfecting his skills with live imaging sonar. Arizona Crappie at a Distance By Scott Mackenthun […]

Black crappie (top) and white crappie (bottom) may look similar, but their spring behavior isn’t the same. Water clarity and habitat often determine which species is most catchable. When to Target Black Crappie Instead of White Story and photos by Keith Sutton Across much of the South and Midwest, anglers are blessed—and sometimes confused—by lakes […]