Intermediate Page

While others pack up for the season, dedicated crappie anglers stay on the water, chasing winter slabs in serene, frost-kissed waters. (Photo: Keith Sutton)   Winter Crappie Hotspots: Lakes That Stay Active by Keith Sutton When winter sets in and temperatures drop, many anglers stash their gear away, waiting for spring’s warmer days to arrive. […]

With a flick of the wrist and the precision of a surgeon, Lee Pitts launches a jig under a low dock, a move that often ends with a thump and a slab on the line. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)   Join Expert Anglers on a Crap(pie) Shoot by Keith Sutton It was more years [...]

Pro Staff Member Jason Cook has no problem keeping a close eye on his forward-facing sonar mounted on Cornfield gear at the Kentucky Lake Demonstration Day. (Photo: Richard Hines)   Cornfield Fishing Gear: Built for the Water, Backed by Experience by Richard Hines A typical Cornfield mount set-up for a Garmin Livescope and depth finder. [...]

Covering water with confidence, Kent Driscoll (front of boat) plays the odds in September with spider rigs and live minnows. (Photo: Keith Sutton)   Cracking the September Crappie Code by Keith Sutton September can be a puzzle for crappie anglers to piece together. It is a month marked with shifting water temperatures, fish movement and […]

Richard Solomon enjoys pulling jigs to find and catch crappie like this one. However, when fishing gets tough because they are on bottom, he uses a super slow technique and says, “You must smack them in the face with a bait.” (Photo: Tim Huffman)   Crack the Code on Sluggish Crappie by Tim Huffman Hot […]

Trolling crankbaits is a great technique for locating slab crappie in Fort Loudoun or Chickamauga Lakes. Both lakes are literally in the backdoor of major metropolitan areas, although surprisingly, not many crappie anglers use this productive technique.   Big-City Crappie: Urban Hotspots You Can Reach Fast Story and photos by Keith Sutton Living in a [...]

Will Hinson works his jig right over the top of a big school of crappie using FFS to guide his effort.   Is Forward Facing Sonar Right for You? Story and photos by Terry Madewell When fish-catching technology leaps forward, anglers watch closely. Once proven effective, the temptation for anglers to incorporate the new technology […]

With eyes focused on his mapping and his forward-facing sonar, Steve Brown searches for crappie in new water. Prior to launching the boat, Brown has already reviewed maps for potential locations to find crappie. (Photo: Richard Hines)   Fishing New Water: When, Where and How by Richard Hines Every angler has faced the challenge; you [...]

Kirby Ham, a guide in eastern Kansas, knows that big crappie can be caught in the heat of summer if you can locate the thermocline. (Photo courtesy Kirby Ham)   Don’t Sweat It – Summer Slabs Will Still Bite by Brent Frazee Kirby Ham doesn’t dread the dog days of summer the way many crappie […]

The likelihood of catching slab crappie like this pair caught by crappie pro Mike Walters attracts anglers from throughout the U.S. to Grenada Lake and other Mississippi waters. (Photo: Keith Sutton)   America’s Top States for Slab Crappie by Keith Sutton Crappie fishing is a beloved pastime across the United States, but not all waters […]

The legendary Mr. Crappie, Wally Marshall, knows that big crappie can still be caught once the spawn is over. (Photo courtesy Wally Marshall) Crappie Spawn is Over – Good Fishing is NOT by Brent Frazee The crappie spawn is winding down and many fishermen are packing away their ultralight gear and jig boxes. But not […]

Savvy oxbow anglers fish jigs and minnows around cypress knees and buttresses to coax bites from their quarry. (Photo: Keith Sutton)   Fishing the Oxbows by Keith Sutton Fast-paced fishing for heavyweight crappie, beautiful scenery, easy access, a get-away-from-it-all atmosphere: these are some of the things crappie anglers look for when seeking a first-rate fishing […]