OPENING CAST JAN 2025
It is no secret that the world is gravitating to the Internet. The printed word on real paper is becoming a thing of the past. In spite of that, we regularly get e-mails from crappie anglers who want to know how they can receive a hardcopy of CrappieNOW Magazine in their mailbox each month.
Crappie Guides on Ice
by Richard Simms
I’m a Southern Boy at heart, and in geography. This is a bad pun, but in my home state of Tennessee, it is literally “a cold day in hell,” if we ever see any ice on a large body of water. And even if it does happen, it will NEVER be enough to fish on safely.
Winter Secrets from Crappie Kirby
by Brent Frazee
Well-known guide Kirby Ham (a.k.a. Crappie Kirby) says crappie are a lot like quail in the winter months. He says both species like to stay near their food source in the cold. They “covey up” when conditions get harsh and especially relate to heavy cover when temperatures plummet.
12 “New Year” Fishing Tips
by Tim Huffman
Line choices can be overwhelming. Wade Mansfield, Grizzly Jig Company, says for general fishing, he recommends weekend fishermen keep things simple, like he does. I use monofilament line. I want 4- to 6-pound-test line in clear or more open water.
Warm Up Inside and Out with Winter Crappie
by Steve McCadams
Appearing now at a lake near you. Hot spots out in the middle of open water where submerged structure clinging to the deep side of a ledge holds buried treasures. Despite a chill in the air, while you are wrapped up like a Christmas gift, there’s nothing like the light strikes…
Lure of the Month: Vibe Runner
by Terry Madewell
New crappie fishing lures are introduced into the crappie-fishing market annually, and many are deadly crappie-catchers from the get-go. But don’t forget about those hot lures released in the past simply because the current chatter is primarily about new lures.
Product Buzz
by Scott Mackenthun
Keep your boat, dock or countertop clean while filleting fish, grab hold in a or hurry, find your way to a favorite fishing hole or protect your high-dollar transducer from damage. Tips for doing it all with some new gear shared by CrappieNOW Columnist Scott Mackenthun.
Crappie Basics: Future Angler Foundation Renamed
Wildlife Forever’s newly acquired program, “Getting Families Fishing & Boating Initiative”, formerly the Future Angler Foundation, has a new home and will continue its mission to “Create New Anglers and Boaters”.
Crappie Basics: Ice Fishing Bundles
With open water in the North turning hard, many anglers are putting their boats into storage and packing the long rods away in exchange for the short rods as ice season arrives in earnest.
DON’T LET THE OLD MAN IN
by Larry Whiteley
It was a sad day when country music star Toby Keith passed away from stomach cancer not quite a year ago. I have always enjoyed listening to Toby’s songs. He was a country boy from Oklahoma who made it big, but he didn’t act like it. He was always just ole’ Toby.
Crappie Dan talks about hook thickness in cold water and slow moving crappie in the winter months. Its the small things that could get you hookup more often.
