Christmas is almost upon us and I just can’t believe that another year has just about passed. The holidays are a favorite part of...
by Tim Huffman You may have no interest in crappie tournaments, or maybe dislike tournaments, but without a doubt they have an impact...
Question: A good December fishing tip? ROD WALL, says, “Bait color is important. Look at the pegs at the baitshop to see which colors...
River fishing isn’t the easiest waters for most fishermen. Rising and falling water, along with changing currents, can cause each day to different....
By Ron Presley Crappie tournaments always offer a challenge of one kind or another. This year’s Crappie USA (CUSA) Classic on Kentucky and Barkley...
with Darrell Baker by John Phillips Editor’s note: Darrell Baker of Centre, Alabama, has been fishing and guiding on Weiss Lake for 40 years....
Every body of water can be different but one way to catch winter crappie is to get close to the bank in 3...
By Vernon Summerlin In keeping with the season, I’ve chosen a few special recipes. Dumpling is our English word for an ancient delicacy...
Ice fishermen are no strangers to the Clam name. The Fishing Hall of Fame of Minnesota announced Clam to it’s list for induction. The...
By Vernon Summerlin Two of the four lakes along the Cumberland River chain in Tennessee are known for crappie – Old Hickory Lake...
By Ron Presley Shane Wilson signs his correspondence with the phrase, “Fishing’s Future……more than a sport.” Give that statement just a little thought and...
EAST TENNESSEE OCTOBER 15th WATTS BAR LAKE 1. Neal Alvis/Scott Bunch 11.79 2. Hayden Barnett/Kelly Barnett 9.86 3. Cory Gerlach/Scott Baines 7.99 4. Darren...
DECEMBER 3rd PEACH STATE LAKE BLACKSHEAR CLUB DECEMBER 3rd CAROLINA-CCA LAKE WATEREE CLUB DECEMBER 3rd RIPPIN’ LIPZ EAGLE LAKE CLUB DECEMBER 10th BAYOU STATE...
Club Web Site Contact BAYOU STATE CRAPPIE ASSOCIATION www.bsca.crappieclub@aol.com Brandon Jennings CAPITOL CRAPPIE CLUB Austin Kneeskern CAROLINA CRAPPIE ASSOCIATION www.carolinacrappieassociation.webnode.com CENTRAL ALABAMA CRAPPIE CLUB...
by Tim Huffman CrappieNow is read by fishermen in the north, south, and Midwest; those who fish clear, stained, shallow and deep waters....
Q: How important is brush in late fall and early winter? Buck Worthen, OK, says, “On Gibson in Oklahoma, the crappie will be on...
Pretrip information can be very important. Since some lakes are pulled down starting in the fall, it’s good do know the lake level for...
By Tim Huffman The biggest crappie circuit for the past decade has been the Crappie Master’s tournament trail. Their fishermen are at the...
Keep your bait moving whether jigging or trolling especially for black crappie. Fish are aggressive that time of year feeding up for winter. If...
Cook it Till it’s Black I fell in love with blackened fish at first taste. Cajun spices make whoopee with my taste buds. This...
By Vic Attardo I don’t know too many things in the natural world that are colored chartreuse. I’ve seen some parrot feathers that are...
CRAPPIE USA SEPTEMBER 24th BARKLEY LAKES AMATEUR DIVISION 1. Kris Mann/Terry Mann 8.84 2. Sonny Sipes/Ronnie Bleas 8.72 3. David Rodgers/Jerry Rodgers 8.52 4....
NOVEMBER 5th CRAPPIENUTZ LAKE EUFAULA CLUB NOVEMBER 5th CAROLINA-CCA LAKE JORDAN CLUB NOVEMBER 6th CHATTANOOGA CHESTER FROST PARK OPEN NOVEMBER 5th BAYOU STATE BLACK...
Fishermen, check with club/association for exact dates, info, etc. MAGNOLIA CRAPPIE CLUB -MS www.magnoliacrappieclub.com CRAPPIE ANGLERS OF TEXAS (CAT)- TX www.crappieanglersoftexas.com WEST TENNESSEE CRAPPIE...
OCTOBER 1st CENTRAL OHIO ALUM CREEK LAKE CLUB OCTOBER 1st-2nd KANSAS TUTTLE CREEK LAKE CLUB OCTOBER 1st-2nd INDIANNA DAY1 SALAMONIE/DAY 2 MISSISSINEWA CLASSIC OCTOBER...
CAT TEXAS AUGUST 20th LAKE TAWAKONI DIVISION 1 1. Richard James/Tommy Ezell 9.67 2. Gary Sims/Pat Martin 9.39 3. Mark Standridge/Darrell Standridge 8.72 BIG...
By Tim Huffman A trip to Oklahoma last October with several of the Gene Larew/Bobby Garland pro staffers provided good access to several...
Vernon Summerlin Tortilla is Spanish meaning “small cake”. A flour or wheat tortilla is a type of soft, thin flatbread made from finely...
Story and photos by John E. Phillips Editor’s Note: The Alabama State Championship was held the first weekend in May, 2016, on the Alabama...
Photos by Tim Huffman A 1,000 square foot museum showcases the history of Lew’s plus other Ozark region people and companies. The museum...
Try shooting docks in the fall. Docks are good gathering places for crappie. Also, baitfish are roaming around them in the fall. ...
Story & Photos by Darl Black Within any specific geographic region, anglers often popularize a lure or style of presentation for which a lake...
Crappie move a lot in the fall and so should you. One of the best places to start is near spring spawning areas....
Dock Crappie Without a Boat By Jeff Williams One place you always can find crappie throughout most of the year is under or near...
Story & Photo by Ron Presley There is no one cookie-cutter setup that applies to every crappie fishing boat. The following are good...
Fishermen, check with club/association for exact dates, info, etc. MAGNOLIA CRAPPIE CLUB -MS www.magnoliacrappieclub.com CRAPPIE ANGLERS OF TEXAS (CAT)- TX www.crappieanglersoftexas.com WEST TENNESSEE CRAPPIE...
SEPTEMBER 10th CRAPPIENUTZ LAKE BLACKSHEAR CLUB SEPTEMBER 10th INDIANNA RACOON CLUB SEPTEMBER 10th WAPPAPELLO WAPPAPELLO LAKE BEN KRUSE TOURNAMENT SEPTEMBER 10th-11th KANSAS POMONA LAKE...
MIDDLE TENNESSEE JULY 22nd TIM’S FORD 1. Rodney Edwards/Coby Edwards 4.81 2. David O’Dell/Mario Ortega 3.1 BIG FISH 1. Rodney Edwards/Coby Edwards 0.98 EASTERN...
(Plus, vinegar history lesson…Robbers and the Black Plague) by Vernon Summerlin Vinegar, one of the ingredients in this month’s BBQ sauce recipe for...
By John Neporadny Jr. Veteran guide Barry Morrow knew he was in for a challenging guide trip on an October day when Fort Gibson...
By Tim Huffman Crappie.com originated in 1996, went to a number one rating and has stayed on top every year as the most...
Most serious slow troller fishermen are great at pole setup but some fishermen are either lazy or don’t get it. When setting...
I’ve interviewed over a 1000 fishermen during my career. Everyone has a different ‘favorite’ when it comes to poles, line, holders, jig bodies,...
by Jonathan Phillips with John E. Phillips No matter whether you’re fishing a river or a lake, the amount of current and muddy water...
I remember my Mom using big gold hooks on black braided line. The line was attached to a long cane pole dad had...
Kent Driscoll of Cordova, Tennessee, has fished for crappie for over 30 years and competes in national crappie tournaments each season. Question: Kent, how...
Open water fishing can be difficult. When fish are tight to structure, slow presentations can be used to target specific spots. However, when...
AUGUST 13th EASTERN MISSOURI TRUMAN LAKE 3 MANM BUDDY AUGUST 13th CENTRAL ARKANSAS LAME NIMROD CLUB AUGUST 19th MIDDLE TENNESSEE NORMANDY CLUB AUGUST 20th...
INDIANNA JUNE 25th TANNER’S CREEK/OHIO RIVER 1. Larry Yates/Doug Allen 6.7 2. Tom Allen/Troy Chandler 6.34 3. Mike Russell/Tim Clepper 6.01 4. Eric Milsaps/Rick...
For the last several months I’ve been sending you recipes that I consider bordering on elaborate to down-right complicated. To wind down summer I’m...
Story & photos by John N. Felsher Many people consider crappie “cold weather species” and only target them during late winter or the spring...
“Sometimes it can be hard to see a bite on a pole. Maybe the sun is blinding, you’re busy doing something else or things...
By Ron Presley The challenge of crappies in current. Catching crappie in the nation’s rivers can be a challenge removed with the right information....
There are many advancements in boat electronics. Wide scanning, down imaging, enhanced sonar and much more. Garrett Steele, half of the Crappie Country, Bobby...
By John Phillips Jim and Barbara Reedy, a husband-and-wife team from Charleston, Missouri, have tournament crappie fished for two decades. These two crappie fishermen...
By Tim Huffman It’s hot. Crappie have had a few months of hot weather and hot water especially in the southern half of...
JULY 8th MIDDLE TENNESSEE NORMANDY WILDCAT JULY 16TH CENTRAL OHIO CAESARS CREEK LAKE CLUB JULY 16th CENTRAL ARKANSAS BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE CLUB JULY 17th...
MAGNOLIA MAY 14th ENID LAKE 1. Steve Sullivan/Michael Lowrey 13.93 2. Brad Taylor/John Harrison 12.26 3. Pat Jeffcoats/Rabbit Rogers 11.97 4. Terry Stewart/Larry Holmes...
by Vernon Summerlin Cerviche, gazpacho and vichyssoise are soups (continued from last month’s recipes) designed especially for summer because they are served cold....
By Lauren Plunkett The question on every angler’s mind is where to crappie go during the year. Several states have recently conducted studies to...
By Darl Black Summer time and crappie fishing is easy…if you are fishing a northern natural lake! With summer in full bloom, you’ll most...
Access to a private pond is the best choice for fishing from the bank but that option may not be available to everyone....
Not everyone has a boat or maybe you just want a short, relaxing trip fishing from the bank. Spillways can offer good fishing....
By Vic Attardo Bobby Mustang starts most mornings about 4 a.m., launching his boat, on a summer’s day, with a distant red glow...
Trolling, or pulling, is a popular way to find and catch summer crappie. Southern anglers have used this tactic successfully for years. Trolling...
By John Phillips The late Ken Cook of of Meers, Oklahoma, a former fisheries biologist, longtime professional bass fisherman and avid crappie fisherman, shares...
By Tim Huffman Brush and crappie beds are prime summer structures. Casting and jigging are tactics that offer fun chase. Fast trolling is...
JUNE 4th CAT TEXAS CEDAR CREEK LAKE JR. ANGLER JUNE 4th-5th NORTHEAST OHIO MOSQUITO LAKE CLUB JUNE 11th-12th INDIANNA MISSISSINEWA/SALAMONIE SUPER JUNE 10th-11th MAGNOLIA...
BAYOU STATE APRIL 23rd D’ARBONNE 1. Mark Taylor/Dustin Taylor 9.82 2. Wes Barmore/Mark Theodos 9.57 3. LD Larry/LD Henry 8.91 4. Jason Thomas/Scotty Johnson...
In much of the South, May signals the time to start shooting docks. Darrel Baker who has been a fishing guide on Weiss Lake...
By Vernon Summerlin Soups or Stews? Soups are similar to stews and in some cases there may not be a clear distinction between...
by Tim Huffman “We want to grow the next generation of conservation leaders and ensure a quality outdoor future for Alabama.” AWF We at...
By Terry Madewell As the sun starts sinking into the western sky near Lake Wylie on the North and South Carolina border, nightstalkers begin...
Don’t avoid stumpy areas when spider rigging. During the Crappie Masters Alabama River tournament, I watched as fishermen worked thick stump and tree...
by Tim Huffman You’ll see a few pieces about Alabama fishing, conservation and recreation in this issue of CrappieNow. A Crappie Masters tournament...
by Darl Black For weekend crappie anglers, the art of fishing has turned into a potentially expensive science. Similar to the impact of tournaments...
Removing a pole from a holder when spider rigging isn’t difficult but is often a problem for many fishermen. There are two stumbling points....
Answers are from the Crappie Master staff during the Grenada Lake spring tournament. Dillon Stocking– “Being able to see all the ways the tournament...
Story & photos by Tim Huffman Late spring and early summer mean fish have spawned, gone through post-spawn and are in transition from...
Fishermen, check with club/association for exact dates, info, etc. MAGNOLIA CRAPPIE CLUB -MS www.magnoliacrappieclub.com CRAPPIE ANGLERS OF TEXAS (CAT)- TX www.crappieanglersoftexas.com WEST TENNESSEE CRAPPIE...
WAPPAPELLO MARCH 19th SLABBER DAVES 1. David Tropf/Edwin Younger 17.2 2. Chris Channell/Billy Fowler 13.35 BIG FISH 1. Joe Quilling 1.92 2. David Trof/Edwin...
Vernon Summerlin Last month I ran out of space before I could offer you this au gratin casserole dish. You can use catfish,...
By Warren Cotton May crappie in the Mississippi reservoirs will be out in deeper water. We’ll be pulling crankbaits. Fast pulling crankbaits is usually...
Story & photos by Darl Black During the latter part of spring in northern states – May through early June – crappies will be...
“The fish are post-spawn so they move out away from structure and suspend up in the water. We pull for them fast with jigs...
By Ron Presley Year Around Crappie on Santee Cooper Southern anglers have a right to get excited about spring crappie fishing. Great fishing expectations...
“Why is it important to upgrade your electronics? Your depthfinder is like a computer at home. Upgrading provides software updates and new features that...
Dan Hudgens, MO, says, “At Kentucky Lake it will be post-spawn so fish will be scattered and suspended. They are hard to catch. However,...
D’Arbonne Lake has two main river channels that allow a fisherman to run way up into the far reaches of the creeks. The main...
By Tim Huffman BRUSH. Early spring fishing, brush and the spawn go together; always have and always will. Crappie are big and active. What’s...
Fishermen, check with club/association for exact dates, info, etc. MAGNOLIA CRAPPIE CLUB -MS www.magnoliacrappieclub.com CRAPPIE ANGLERS OF TEXAS (CAT)- TX www.crappieanglersoftexas.com WEST TENNESSEE CRAPPIE...
WAPPAPELLO FEBRUARY 21st LAKE WAPPAPELLO 1. Chism/Chism 7.9 2. Berry/McCutchen 7.68 3. Hill/Hicks 5.57 4. Baugus/Hillis 5.53 BIG FISH 1. Chism/Chism 1.69 2. Baugus/Hillis...
Vernon Summerlin This month we’re taking two of our crappie recipes on a European tour. In France we’re fixin’ a golden crusted baked fish,...
by Rodney Neuhaus “Spring is a great time to catch crappie in shallow water. That’s what people think of this time of year. However,...
By Vic Attardo Here in the farm country of eastern Pennsylvania we spend at least one day a year slaving over a big...
It’s spawn time in the middle states but down south where I’m at in Louisiana, it’s post-spawn. We are looking for fish that...
By Tim Huffman Crappie often move from shallow spawning areas out to flats and along mid-depth channels for their post-spawn pattern. When the...
“The fish in this region of Tennessee are spawning in April, but of course that depends upon the water temperatures. There are many different...
Question: Why are fish lost? Jim Dant, IL, had a cooler of Reelfoot crappie in the isle of the Grizzly Jig Show where he...
By Brad Wiegmann You can catch crappie on any boat that floats. However, only a pontoon let’s you enjoy crappie fishing to the maximum...
By Kevin Jones Spring is the time for a lot of cold fronts that shut the fish off. So when fish are shallow in...
CAT TEXAS JANUARY 16th LAKE O’PINES 1. Guy Skinner/David Goodson 11.55 2. Tommy Ezel/Richard James 9.31 3. Willie Scott/Chris...
“March is pre-spawn month in at Kentucky Lake. However, the exact time of spawn, no matter what part of the country you are in,...
SmokingSmoking and canning offer alternatives from traditional frying. You can smoke crappie but they’re so hard to keep lit. (That’s an old ’60s joke...
Ron Presley Thousands of crappie anglers get their start in small boats rigged for crappie fishing. Flat bottom aluminum John Boats have long been...
By Don Gasaway When man first crossed over the Bering Strait and began to settle North America he brought with him the kayak. It...
“March is a good time to learn and practice shallow fishing. Not shallow water but fishing 7-foot or deeper water with crappie suspended up...
By Tim Huffman Question: What type line do you use and why? Ron Molitor, Mark Twain Lake, “I use Sufix 6-pound test line. I...
Longtime CrappieNow sponsor, respected bass fisherman and great bait designer, Gary Yamamoto, enters the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame this month. He is in...
By Tim Huffman Sam Heaton and I have been friends since the late 80’s. I listened to Sam give crappie fishing seminars at Bass...
By Darl Black Depending on where you live in up North, early bird anglers may refer to it as the mud bay bite, the...
by Tim Huffman Wood and Brush. Spawning time, and the catchin’ is easy. Or maybe not. But it’s a good bet that sometime when...
WEST TENNESSEE DECEMBER 12th BIRDSONG RESORT 1. John Graves/Anthony Curtis 9.09 2. Scotty Shannon 6.84 BIG FISH ...
Crappie BasicsYou can be fishing and the crappie shut down where you are fishing. You have a choice of what you do. Three options...
Favorite colors for crappie jigs change some from year to year. Maybe it’s water color. Maybe the fish get use to seeing the same...
Vernon Summerlin Let’s go the other side of the world to try a Chinese dish for our crappie. Shui Zhu Yu is one of...
by Ron Presley Cold weather storage is important. Everything from your gasoline seasonal equipment checks are important. Well Equipped Shed- A shed or garage...
By Tim Huffman An interesting post on January 3 by professional bass angler, Randy Blaukat, addressed the question of expense in bass fishing and...
By Vic Attardo Most normal folks will, at some point in the winter, swing their legs up on a couch and watch a football...
by Terry Madewell Waters begin warming quickly in the far southern states triggering the start of “springtime crappie fishing” no matter if the calendar...
Story and photos by Tim Huffman PVC beds are nothing new. Plastic buckets have been used for imitations stumps for decades. Eight to ten...
MAGNOLIA NOVEMBER 14th WOLF LAKE 1. T Moss/B Calhoun 7.21 2. B Taylor/J Harrison 6.43 ...
Simple Crappie Recipes to Kick Off a Happy 2016 Goals for Making Life Go Your WayAt the turn of each year I like to...
by Ron Presley It’s just like mowing your lawn. The Lowrance unit on his Ranger Boat helped Tim Blackley find this nice Reelfoot crappie....
By Vic Attardo On the Good Ship Lollipop, anglers fishing Lake Moultrie at “Santee Cooper” show off a terrific catch of winter crappie. There...
By Darl Black Russ Bailey and Dale Black taping a segment of Brushpile Fishing show on Pymatuning Lake on PA/OH border. If you are...
by Josh Lantz It’s no secret. Big water grows big crappies. Large, deep lakes have an abundance of forage and more places for crappies...
By Tim Huffman Finding the right fishing spots is what separates most fishermen. When fish are in a neutral feeding mood, fishermen putting the...