Story & photos by John N. Felsher From where the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers merge to form the Alabama River near Wetumpka, Alabama, the...
John Godwin of Duck Dynasty wears a grey beard and big smile. He loves the outdoors including crappie fishing. And, he is very...
By Brent Frazee I have a different view of Christmas trees than most people. Sure, I love to see my family gathered around the...
Russ Bailey, host of BrushPile Fishing TV show says winter is a time for some finesse. “Downsizing is something that you need to consider...
By Tim Huffman Placing cover for crappie is nothing new. Stake bed, crappie condo, crappie bed, brushpile, structure and cover are a few of...
by Mike Sheppard In December, the fish will be in the mouths of the creeks. Water temperatures in November here on Kentucky Lake but...
“We are very excited to be working with Trinity Oaks, as we truly support and believe in the work of the organization to help...
Southwick Associates are leaders in angler, hunter and shooter surveys. They say recreational anglers cite a lot of reasons for choosing their favorite locations...
Pickling began about 4,000 years ago. The process was developed to preserve foods including veggies, fruit, fish and meats. Pickled foods, especially cucumbers, are...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FACEBOOK BAYOU STATE CRAPPIE ASSOCIATION Brandon Jennings FACEBOOK BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE ASSOC. Peyton Usery FACEBOOK BOYDS...
CENTRAL ILLINOIS CRAPPIE CLUB OCTOBER 20th DECATUR LAKE 1. Brian Cleveland/Chad Napier 8.74 2. Jett Lapin 8.08 3. Brian Plank/Eli Plank 7.82 4. Gabe...
DEC 1st FLORIDA CRAPPIE CLUB OKEECHOBEE CLUB DEC 1st KANSAS CRAPPIE CLUB CLINTON LAKE TOY DRIVE DEC 1st TWIN LAKES FISH ANYWHERE CLASSIC DEC...
by Greg McCain Crappie fishermen generally have pre-conceived notions about where fish live. One generally accepted thought is crappie spend most of the year...
“I like Grenada Lake, Mississippi in November. Power trolling works great. I use the BnM Power Trollers with 3-ounce weights. It’s important to cover...
By Ron Presley Mother Nature delivered tough fishing conditions to crappie anglers competing in the 2018 Cabela’s Crappie USA Tournament Trail (CUSA) on Lake...
Crappie Masters tournament angler, Chris Dudgeon, says the fall fishing can be great and it’s not too difficult to find action. “The key to...
Boat US says recreational boat owner need to take special precautions with storage of E-10 (ethanol) gas. Ethanol fuel can cause problems over the...
by Tim Huffman Twenty one years of age doesn’t add up decades of fishing experience. However, many hours on the water this year, working...
“In Arkansas, the shad move up into shallow water in November and December. The shad go into what I’m told is a second...
Vernon Summerlin CrappieNow editor Tim Huffman and I have exchanged emails about deer season; he was bragging ’bout the bucks he’s taken and I...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FACEBOOK BAYOU STATE CRAPPIE ASSOCIATION Brandon Jennings FACEBOOK BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE ASSOC. Peyton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL...
SPRINGFIELD CRAPPIE CLUB SEPTEMBER 22nd LAKE SHELBYVILLE 1. Bob Sarko/Rick Clifton 6.7 2. Donnie Lucas/Gabe Fairfield 6.11 3. Greg Humphrey/Luke Humphrey 4.77 4. Jerry...
NOV 2nd – 3rd CRAPPIE USA BARCLEY/KENTUCKY LAKES SUPER EVENT NOV 3rd CENTRAL ILLINOIS CLINTON LAKE CLUB NOV 3rd FISH THE CAROLINAS WATEREE CLUB...
CAT recently held its 11th Texas State Crappie Championship Tournament on Lake Fork on October 12-13, 2018. This was a two-day tournament. Even with...
by Tim Huffman Ledges are structures that can work year round. They can be creeks, rivers or ditches and smaller creeks running into bigger...
By Vic Attardo Everyone knows that time and tides wait for no man. Well, apparently crappie, the wonderful fish we love to catch and...
October crappie, whether in the north or south, will be in general areas where they were in the spring. They may not be as...
Story & photos by Darl Black The year was 1959 when Berkley’s Trilene and DuPont’s Stren were launched. Although there had been extruded nylon...
“A good tip for October is to just get out and crappie fish. My home lake is Truman, so in the fall we dip...
“October is the time to look shallow if they are not deep,” says Noel Fernandez. “The fish will usually be shallow early and...
Team Reeve announced today that the 1st Annual Texas Jack N Jill Crappie Classic Tournament will be held November 3, 2018 on Lake O’...
By: Ron Wong Daytime temperatures of mid-90’s greeted 121 teams at Grenada Lake for the final American Crappie Trail tournament for 2018. Tournament talk...
Each month I highlight an ingredient in my recipe. This month that ingredient isn’t edible but a major contributor to your success when grilling...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FACEBOOK BAYOU STATE CRAPPIE ASSOCIATION Brandon Jennings FACEBOOK BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE ASSOC. Peyton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL...
MAGNOLIA CRAPPIE CLUB AUGUST 25th WOLF LAKE 1. Adam Calcote/Nolan Beck 8.73 2. Jimmy D Smith/Ricky Smith 8.63 3. John McNeese/Chase Ehlers 8.48 4....
OCT 6th LAKE OKEECHOBEE CRAPPIE SERIES LAKE OKEECHOBEE 1st QUALIFIER OCT 6th NORTHEAST OHIO BERLIN LAKE CLUB OCT 6th SPRINGFIELD CRAPPIE LAKE SPRINGFIELD CLUB...
Learn 2 Fish With Us and NPAA members Karen Karch #121 and Greg Karch #138 along with Learn 2 Fish With Us volunteers attended...
by Tim Huffman Stories and blame varies with most fingers pointing to a few government agencies and fish farmers. Different species of Asian carp...
There are times, especially in the springtime, when fish are aggressive and smack a bait like they mean business. Late summer and early fall...
By Ron Wong ICAST 2018 in Orlando, Florida was a sight to behold. 350,000 square feet of fishing and marine tackle displayed for...
There is a business side to Capital Sportsman but there is a unique, admirable quality that is often forgotten in today’s dog-eat-dog world. It’s...
By Tim Huffman The year was 1981. My partners and I put a couple of lanterns out on pieces of conduit wedged in the...
Everyone knows that a weedless jig head is a good way to reduce hang-ups, but what about fishing a minnow? One tactic is to...
There is no denying that planer boards for crappie took a huge leap when a Crappie Masters National Championship was won on Grenada...
When most of us think of chowder, New England comes to mind. The phonetic variant chowda, is believed to have originated in Newfoundland in...
by Vic Attardo Maybe you’ve never heard of George Toalson. That’s all right; he is is not exactly a household name. But I can...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FACEBOOK BAYOU STATE CRAPPIE ASSOCIATION Brandon Jennings FACEBOOK BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE ASSOC. Peyton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL...
AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL JULY 27th – 28th TRUMAN LAKE NATIONAL QUALIFIER 1. Daniel Pemberton/Justin Neuman 20.76 2. Mike Gillotte/Jon Gillotte 20.75 3. Rich Campbell/Travis...
SEPT 1st KANSAS CRAPPIE CLUB MELVERN LAKE CLUB SEPT 1st TRUMAN LAKE TOURNAMENT SERIES TRUMAN LAKE SERIES SEPT 8th FISH THE CAROLINAS HIGH ROCL...
Story & photos by Greg McCain Crappie fishermen are a resourceful collection of individuals. They take time-honored traditions and make them better. They develop...
Robert Robinson, a.k.a. Wister Slab Daddy on crappie.com, says August in Oklahoma can be okay. “Most fishermen fish deep but I fish shallow. I...
By: Ron Wong Surface temperatures in the south are really hot this year from all the 90-plus degree daytime temperatures. Many of the lakes...
Fishing isn’t as fun when swatting mosquitos, flies and other pest. Crappie fishermen have an easy way to enjoy fishing without having to...
Story & photos by Tim Huffman Stumps are friends of a crappie fisherman. However, learning which stumps are being used by the fish can...
Summer crappie are famous for being slow to bite when it’s hot. They’ll bump a bait, nip it in the rear or just look...
Gene Larew Lures, makers of Bobby Garland crappie baits and Gene Larew bass lures, announces the introduction of the Slab Hunt’R for crappie...
Velouté is last one of the five mother sauces of classical cuisine we haven’t covered. It can be made with any white stock, but...
By Barry Morrow August is when fishermen often go deep because it’s hot. I do the opposite. There are always some baitfish in...
SHOALS AREA CRAPPIE ASSOCIATION JUNE 16th LITTLE BEAR 1. Jimmy McCarley/David McCarley 6.46 2. Keith Jenkins/Josh Jenkins 5.97 3. Jonathan Kirby 5.92 4. Kevin...
AUG 4th CRAPPIE MASTERS MARK TWAIN LAKE 2nd Leg of MO ST Championship AUG 4th KANSAS CRAPPIE CLUB EL DORADO CLUB AUG 5th KANSAS...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FaceBook BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE CLUB Payton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL CRAPPIE CLUB Austin Kneeskern FaceBook CAROLINA CRAPPIE...
Story & photos by Ron Wong Summertime and the livin’ is easy, fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high, means it is hot...
One tactic is to keep on the move when casting, pitching or jigging. To move fast, use a 1/8- or 1/4-ounce jig. Tip with...
by Tim Huffman June 15-16. Truman Lake, MO. “This tournament,” says Crappie Masters President, Mike Vallentine, “is special in many ways. First, it’s a...
The Oliso Pro VS97A Smart Vacuum Sealer is a great tool for an outdoorsman and/or cook. It’s a storage system that removes air and...
Story & photos by Brent Frazee Most fishermen would rather sit in front of an air conditioner than in a fishing boat on days...
Middle to upper states may still have a few fish in the bushes, but with warm weather of May, most fish will likely be...
Products come and go…but not Slider Grubs. They were hot from the start and continue to catch fish today. The company was started in...
Father & Son Team Wins Story & photos by Ron Wong Despite rising water levels, the father/son team of Terry and Cole Stewart wins...
Let’s take our cooking outside. We’ll grill and barbeque some fillets. Grilling is generally done quickly over moderate-to-high direct heat that produces little smoke...
by Terry Richard Fishing on Louisiana lakes for me means long lining. At Darbonne, for example, some of the fish are on the flats...
CENTRAL ALABAMA CRAPPIE CLUB MAY 26th ALABAMA RIVER/SWIFT CREEK 1. Jamie Heflin/James Heflin 12.18 2. Jonathan Phillips/Alicia Phillips 12.05 3. Scott Williams/Billy Williams 11.76...
JULY 7th KANSAS CRAPPIE CLUB POMONA LAKE CLUB JULY 14th TWIN LAKES BIG BEAR SHOOTOUT JULY 21st BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE CLUB BEAVER LAKE CLUB...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FaceBook BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE CLUB Payton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL CRAPPIE CLUB Austin Kneeskern FaceBook CAROLINA CRAPPIE...
by Tim Huffman Perfect is not a good word to use when discussing fishing, but mid-depth stumps, brush and beds are as close to...
Everyone knows that oxbow lakes can be good fishing in the spring. However, early summer offers good post-spawn fishing before the water gets etremely...
Story & photos by Darl Black Ken Smith of Sharon, Pennsylvania is as hardcore a crappie angler as they come! Having started fishing for...
Jimmy Houston started catching crappie on Road Runners about the time the Pyramids were built. Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but the bait was designed...
By Ron Wong With the majority of the spawning done, and water is warming up for this year, the crappie are on the move...
Northern lakes are known for their weedbed crappie. The beds are usually a combination of weeds and grass that provides excellent cover for the...
Poles are an investment. One of the best ways to protect and organize is with RodSox. A unique feature is a snag proof, hook...
You don’t need a wok to stir-fry fish. A heavy skillet that holds the heat will work just fine. Now let’s wok up some...
Kyle Stoffel, competitor in the Crappie Masters Alabama River tournament in May, says, “June crappie are very dependent upon water temperature. They’ll likely...
A carpenter needs the proper saws and power hammers. Tools of the trade are important. The same goes for a fisherman. Fishermen differ on...
EAST TENNESSEE CRAPPIE CLUB APRIL 20th CHEROKEE LAKE 1. Scott Bunch/Neil Alvis 8.97 2. Darren Caughron/Tracy Caughron 7.93 3. Cameron Dicken 7.83 4. Wally...
JUNE 1st- 2nd CRAPPIE USA GREEN RIVER LAKES TRAIL JUNE 2nd INDIANA SLAB MASTERS MONROE LAKE CLUB JUNE 2nd – 3rd CENTRAL ARKANSAS CRAPPIE...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FaceBook BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE CLUB Payton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL CRAPPIE CLUB Austin Kneeskern FaceBook CAROLINA CRAPPIE...
By John Neporadny Jr. Barry Morrow was fishing a tournament at Stockton Lake in Missouri, when he discovered a bass fishing finesse technique...
by Tim Huffman David Baynard, a second-generation rod holder guru with Driftmaster (Black River Tools), continues to pave the way to more efficient,...
Many fishermen believe shallow water is good only in the spring. In some waters, that may be the case. However, the majority of lakes...
“Lake Jordan is one of our greatest tourist attractions and we feel it’s one of the most beautiful lakes in Alabama,” says Elmore...
by Vic Attardo As I kid, I never hung out on street corners. Of course, where I came from in farm country, street corners...
by John Harrison Fishing can be good here at Grenada after the spawn. Late May and early June can be an excellent time....
Wally Marshall Signature Series Crappie Rods were designed as sensitive jigging poles. They are great for this technique but they also have a following...
How Did the Top Teams Catch Their Fish by Ron Wong Stained to muddy water greeted the American Crappie Trail anglers at Ross Barnett...
You been catching fish in an area but a change in water temperature, water elevation or other factor has changed fishing to a no-catch...
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Education Section’s mission is to serve as the principal advocate for the steward of South Carolina’s...
by Tim Huffman Catching a three-pound crappie and not weighing it is like shooting a 190 whitetail buck and not letting anyone score it....
Scampi, or Langoustines or Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus) are roughly the size of a large crayfish and fished from silty bottom regions of...
CAROLINA CRAPPIE ASSOCIATION MARCH 23rd – 24th LAKE JORDAN 1. Bundrick/Bundrick 22.31 2. Hawkins/McGuirt 21.54 3. Quan/Grimm 21.48 4. Danque/Willard 20.91 5. Eudy/Koontz 20.26...
MAY 4th – 5th CRAPPIE USA CAVE RUN LAKE SUPER EVENT MAY 5th CENTRAL ARKANSAS CRAPPIE ASSOC LAKE DARDANELLA CLUB MAY 5th COOSA RIVER...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FaceBook BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE CLUB Payton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL CRAPPIE CLUB Austin Kneeskern FaceBook CAROLINA CRAPPIE...
By Tim Huffman Crappie are no strangers to rivers and creek systems. Good numbers and sizes are both possible when conditions are right…and many...
“When you think you are fishing too shallow, shallow up some more. A lot of people try to stay out in 6 or 7...
Story & photos by Greg McCain Crappie hate current. Even knowledgeable anglers agree on this fact. Given a choice, crappie prefer water with little...
Story & photos by Brent Frazee When Bill Hartman started fly fishing for crappie in the Kansas Flint Hills, he had a gallery. Landowners...
An April tip in Florida is to find the fish moving back out. In Alabama, as long as the dogwoods are still blooming, you...
The best spring tip is water temperature. Make sure you are getting in the 59-60 degree water. To get an accurate reading, put your...
Scampi, or Langoustines or Norway lobsters are roughly the size of a large crayfish and fished from silty bottom regions of the open...
CRAPPIE MASTERS FEBRUARY 24th – 25th LAKE D’ARBONNE 1. Nichoals Young/Jock Young 24.4 2. Dustin Harris/Kelley Graham 24.18 3. Tommy Skarlis/Mike Baker 23.86 4....
APR 7th COOSA RIVER CRAPPIE CLUB NEELY HENRY CLUB APR 7th CRAPPIE ANGLERS OF TEXAS LAKE FORK/CRAPPIE MASTERS CLUB APR 7th CRAPPIE MASTERS LAKE...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FaceBook BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE CLUB Payton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL CRAPPIE CLUB Austin Kneeskern FaceBook CAROLINA CRAPPIE...
Story & photos by Tim Huffman A trip last year to Lake D’Arbonne, Louisiana, allowed me experience both seasonal structure fishing and strategies for...
Story & photos by Darl Black Across the Northeast and Lower Great Lakes states, March usually comes in like an old winter lion...
“In Ohio the ice is just coming off. Most people think deep but shallow water, especially on the north side of the lake and...
by Ron Wong The water is warming and lake levels are rising due to spring rains. This means the crappie are moving into the...
by Tim Huffman Which is your top lake pick? Gathering lake information has been interesting and informative. This list uses a formula of five...
(reprint compliments of TTI-Blakemore) TJ Stallings, PR/Marketing Manager TTI-Blakemore. TJ was a life long advocate of conservation and dedicated to teaching others the world...
By Bart Gillon My first tip is to keep it simple and use jigs. There are times of the year I want a...
March Tip. “Look shallower than where you think the fish should be. It’s something that has taken place for years and so many people...
Golden, tasty strips of crappie fillets will become most pleasing after the batter ingredients have had time to mingle for at least an hour...
FLORIDA CRAPPIE CLUB JANUARY 6th LAKE HENDERSON 1. Sam Cooper 7.1 2. Bobby Hill 6.09 3. Tommy Kinsler 6.06 4. Scott/Wendell 6.04 5. Moose/William...
MAR 3rd CRAPPIE MASTERS WEISS LAKE 1st LEG OF AL ST Championship MAR 3rd CRAPPIE USA LAKW WYLIE & TENN-TOM CLUB MAR 3rd HOI...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FaceBook BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE CLUB Payton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL CRAPPIE CLUB Austin Kneeskern FaceBook CAROLINA CRAPPIE...
By Tim Huffman “Shooting gives you so much more accuracy and lets you get into spots you can’t get by casting or flipping.” Travis...
by Ron Presley The first visit to a new body of water produces feelings of anxiety and hope. The anxiety comes because of the...
“February and March are good times to spider rig. A lot of fishermen think spider rigging is putting down baits on eight poles and...
By Vic Attardo Some guys like their distilled grains “neat” — meaning not diluted or mixed with anything. Then again other guys like their...
“Together helping our children catch their dreams” Kids Fishing and Education announced Emily Stocking as the new Managing Director. Her parents owned Everhart’s Tackle...
By Charles Bunting In February, if my home lake, Ozarks in Missouri, has ice off of it, I’ll be shooting docks. Sunshine on docks...
“Beginning sometime in February and going until mid-March when the lily pads top out, a fisherman can cast at Reelfoot. The stems are great....
The word “grits” derives from the Old English word “grytt,” meaning coarse meal that originated in the Southern United States but now is available...
EAST TENESSEE CRAPIE CLUB DECEMBER 16th DOUGLAS LAKE 1. Scott Bunch/Neil Alvis 7.93 2. Mike Willard 6.99 3. Jim Huber/Tim Irwin 6.53 4. Darren...
FEB 2nd – 3rd CRAPPIE MASTERS LAKE TAIQUIN FINAL LEG OF FL ST Championship FEB 3rd MIDDLE TENNESSEE WOODS RESERVOIR CLUB FEB 10th CAROLINA...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FaceBook BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE CLUB Payton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL CRAPPIE CLUB Austin Kneeskern FaceBook CAROLINA CRAPPIE...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FaceBook BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE CLUB Payton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL CRAPPIE CLUB Austin Kneeskern FaceBook CAROLINA CRAPPIE...
By Tim Huffman Winter fishing water that’s not frozen can be a challenge with big rewards. Keying in on the right spots...
By Darl Black Dave Lefebre of Erie, PA may be best known for his fishing successes on national bass circuits, but during the...
Building crappie beds isn’t just a thing of the past. It’s just as important now as it was several decades ago. Some waters have...
By Tim Huffman Crappie fishermen can improve their catching by building and sinking beds, maintaining good boat control and quickly forming patterns. However,...
Story & photos by John E. Phillips Cold weather can be a nightmare for crappiers to fish. However, if you’re like me, you...
Lakes and rivers vary greatly in characteristics but a percentage of them will have deep crappie in the winter. It’s a place they are...
The traditional Po Boy sandwich from Louisiana almost always contains fried seafood; shrimp, crawfish, oysters and crab. Here are some options for dressing...
SPRINGFIELD CRAPPIE CLUB NOVEMBER 11th LAKE SPRINGFIELD 1. Wes Pierceall/Wes Kauffman 7.83 2. Sammy Wright/Zack Pierce 6.8 BIG FISH 1. Wes Pierceall/Wes Kauffman 1.98...
JAN 6th PEACH STATE SINCLAIR CLUB JAN 6th SOUTHWEST MISSOURI LAKE OF THE OZARKS FISH OFF JAN 7th CHATTANOOGA CHESTER FROST PARK CLUB JAN...
Club Contact Link AMERICAN CRAPPIE TRAIL Matt Morgan FaceBook BEAVER LAKE CRAPPIE CLUB Payton Usery FACEBOOK CAPITOL CRAPPIE CLUB Austin Kneeskern FaceBook CAROLINA CRAPPIE...
