OPENING CAST JULY 2026
Crappie Tactics for Summertime
All of us look for new ways to catch some crappie for the dinner table or just for fun. I have a couple of techniques that have worked for Sue and me during the hot days and nights of summer.
Pulling crankbaits and plastics behind Off Shore Tackle planer boards is an excellent way to catch a bunch of good crappie. Almost everywhere we fish using this technique, we catch them on various colors of crankbaits and plastics. One hot color combo is black/chartreuse.
Keeping Minnows Alive and Lively Story and photos by Keith Sutton
Using lively minnows can mean the difference between catching lots of nice slabs or none. Keeping Minnows Alive and Lively Story and photos by Keith Sutton Minnows are the best natural baits for crappie. No other offering can tempt slabs more consistently than a lively baitfish struggling on the hook. But there’s a catch: dead […]
The St. Johns River: A Habitat Haven for Crappie By Anietra Hamper
Crappie angler Donnie McCormick taking advantage of the morning bite on the St. Johns River tributaries in Florida. Photo credit: Anietra Hamper The St. Johns River: A Habitat Haven for Crappie By Anietra Hamper The St. Johns River and its tributaries in east-central Florida hold some of the best crappie fishing in the United […]
Crappie Basics: Slider Time By Keith Sutton
Right in the strike zone—this crappie couldn’t resist a weedless slider slipped through heavy cover. Crappie Basics: Slider Time By Keith Sutton Catching crappie in the latter weeks of spring isn’t always easy. When the water warms, they slide into the thickest cover they can find—brushpiles, laydowns, stump fields and shoreline weeds. That’s great for […]
One Ounce Makes History By Keith Sutton
David Selle of Lino Lakes displays the 4-pound, 1-ounce black crappie he caught from Cedar Lake in Rice County, Minnesota. The fish established a new Minnesota state-record black crappie by certified weight, edging the previous mark by just over an ounce. (Photo courtesy of Minnesota DNR) One Ounce Makes History By Keith Sutton Sometimes a […]
Summer Crankbait Fishing—It’s HOT! Story and photos by Tim Huffman
Bad, but good! The bad is getting a crankbait out, but the good news is a fisherman knows he has everything dialed in just right when crappie are swallowing the bait. Summer Crankbait Fishing—It’s HOT! Story and photos by Tim Huffman Summer provides excellent opportunities to chase crappie with crankbaits. Trolling allows a lot […]
Paddlin’ with Madalyn—Step One: Kayak Launch
Paddlin’ with Madalyn—Step One: Kayak Launch Photos and Story By Madalyn Roberts Kayak launch and loading is an aspect of kayak fishing that doesn’t seem to get the attention it deserves. Advances in technology and equipment in recent years mean each angler’s rig is unique. The one commonality, however, is that most kayaks are made […]
Product Buzz, by Scott Mackenthun
Berkley Drip Swimmer Berkley has your trailer of choice with their Drip Swimmer. The 3-inch version is perfect for crappie anglers who go drop shotting, swim shotting, strolling, casting on jig heads or who use them as a trailer on other baits. Leave the minnows behind and grab these ultra-realistic plastic minnows in 14 fish-catching [...]
CN How To July 2026 Crappie Dan’s Playbook, Structure Shadows
The most productive crappie locations are often where structure provides shade or creates a distinct transition between bright sunlight and darkness. Morning: Focus on the west side of standing timber, brush piles, docks, and bridge pilings, where the rising sun casts the first shadows. Crappie commonly position themselves along these shaded edges to ambush baitfish. [...]