Find the right stretch of shoreline as crappie are moving to shallow water to
spawn and it can sometimes be easy to fill a stringer. (Photo: Richard Simms)
No Boat? You Can Still Bank on Crappie
by Brent Frazee
Even if you don’t want to fool with a boat, or can’t afford one, no problem. You can still bank on catching crappie. Check out our crappie-catching guide for landlubbers.
SPAWN MADNESS
When the water temperature climbs into the mid-60s – usually by late March or early April in most Southern states and earlier the farther south you go – crappie head to the shallows to spawn. That is the obvious time of the year when it pays to be a bank fisherman.
Keep in mind that success can vary greatly, even on the same body of water. The shallower upper end of reservoirs tends to warm first. The spawn in coves and cuts there can take place as much as two weeks earlier than the lower end.
The first step is picking a likely place to fish. Early, that would be the north side of a cove that receives south wind to warm the water. Look for a gravel or chunk rock bank. A bonus would be a bank that has scattered brush piles mixed in.
Cast out a small thermometer under a bobber to check out water temperature. If it’s in the upper 60s, it’s usually game on.
CHANNEL-SWING BANKS & POINTS
If you plan to fish a large reservoir, buy a topographical map of that body of water and pinpoint places where the main river channel, or even secondary creek channels, swing close to shore.
A place like that can be productive year-round, but especially in late winter or early spring when the crappie are just starting to get the urge to feed up in advance of the spawn.
The fish spend most of their time in deeper water, but have ready access to the shallows where they can feed. Gravel or rocky points are the best, especially if they are right above good spawning coves.
SMALL CONSERVATION LAKES
The water warms first in small bodies of water, and most fish and game departments provide ample public water to meet the demand.
Some fisheries departments sink brush piles in the shallows so bank fishermen have good cover to fish within casting distance. Some also build rock jetties so that fishermen can experiment with different depths to see where the fish are holding.
Because the lakes are small, bank fishermen can easily walk around the entire shoreline to see where the fish are shallow.
RIVERS
Small rivers and creeks can produce surprisingly good crappie fishing in areas where there is slack water and some type of cover such as brush or rocks.
Even large rivers such as the Missouri can produce some giants in the calm water behind dikes. Case in point: Homer Peek of Sibley, Mo., caught a 4-pound 5-ounce white crappie – a state record at the time – on the Missouri River in 1981.
Look for eddies or current seams, which disorient baitfish and present an easy meal to fish such as crappie.
SECONDARY CREEKS
In early fall, shad will migrate into shallow water in creek arms of reservoirs and crappie and bass will follow them there and go on a feeding binge. It can be a great time to fish from the bank before the water temperatures drop and the fish move out to deeper water.
DOCKS
Marinas or other docks on reservoirs offer fishermen a chance to try different depths without walking far.
Many marinas don’t allow public access, or charge a small fee, so always ask first. But it can be well worth the cost.
Heavy fishing pressure can affect the bite, but some anglers compensate for that by going to ultra-ultralight tackle—light as light as 2-pound test.
BRIDGE PILLARS
At many highway crossings, bridge pillars are within casting distance and can prove to be great crappie holding areas. Or even when crappie are migrating to shallower water, those bridge crossings act as funnels for crappie just moving through the area.
TAILRACE AREAS BELOW DAMS
The tailwaters below major dams can provide excellent crappie fishing. Look for current breaks such as brush piles and large rocks, or slack water that butts up against the faster flow.
FARM PONDS
Private farm ponds can be great places to fish from the bank because of their small size and their low fishing pressure. But those two factors also can be a disadvantage. Crappie tend to overpopulate if they aren’t kept in balance, resulting in large numbers of stunted fish.
Find a pond that has a relatively small population of crappie and you will find some big fish.
EQUIPMENT
No need to get fancy. An ultralight rod and reel and a small tackle box with hooks, bobbers and pinch-on weights will do. If it is important to cast longer distances, longer, light weight rods can sometimes be better.
Minnows are the universal bait, but hauling a minnow bucket around can keep an angler from covering much water.
An assortment of hair jigs or small plastic baits such as tube jigs, twisters and grubs can be equally effective. Many anglers fish a 1/16th or even a 1/32nd-ounce jig under a slip bobber to accommodate a slow retrieve but still keep the bait from sinking into the brush.
Remember to make sure you have permission to fish these areas, and use proper etiquette when fishing around other anglers. Follow these tips and you stand a good chance of going home with fish for the frying pan.
Brent Frazee is an award-winning writer and photographer from Parkville, Mo. He was outdoors editor of The Kanas City Star for 36 years before retiring in 2016. He continues to write for websites, magazines and newspapers.
