OPENING CAST NOV 2026
Opening Cast: Fall Crappie Fever: Find ’Em and Catch ’Em!
The fall crappie bite is on!!! So, where will they be, and how do we fish for them?
To catch early-fall crappie as the water temperatures drop into the lower seventies and sixties, you must be flexible and watchful of weather conditions. On days when high pressure dominates, early mornings and late afternoons are best. Bluebird skies with lots of sunshine will concentrate the fish where they can hide their eyes from the sun but near food such as shad or minnows.
The techniques that work best on these days also go by the time of the day. In early morning, the crappie will be roaming in and around schools of baitfish. Casting to these bait schools or through the schools can be a great way to catch these panfish feeding up for the winter. As the day progresses, fish brushpiles in 10 to 14 feet of water or around docks and bridges. Deep laydowns can also produce fish any time of the day. The key is food nearby!
Those Winter Sweet Spots
Nothing says winter fishing like an Indiana snowstorm! Ozark Rods pro-staff angler Dante Sezer shows off two crappie taken during a winter storm in Indiana. (Photo courtesy of Dante Sezer) Those Winter Sweet Spots By Richard Hines It was not too many years ago, few anglers pursued crappie during winter. The normal […]
Fall Crappie on Missouri’s Stockton Lake
Guide Kris Nelson (right) and his customers know that Stockton Lake’s fall crappie fishing is something to smile about. Fall Crappie on Missouri’s Stockton Lake By Brent Frazee Photos courtesy of Tandem Fly Outfitters It’s hard to imagine that a 25,000-acre reservoir in the Missouri Ozarks is somewhat of a secret to crappie […]
Six Fall Crappie Lakes You May Not Know About
Fall crappie are popular targets for many Kansas anglers at locations like beautiful Fall River Lake. (Photo courtesy of TravelKS.com) Six Fall Crappie Lakes You May Not Know About By Keith Sutton Ask a dozen serious crappie anglers where they would go for a fall fishing trip, and chances are you’ll hear many […]
Crappie Basics: The Well-Stocked Tackle Box
The author’s tackle box has several plastic boxes with dividers to create multiple compartments for keeping a variety of jigs in different colors, sizes and styles. Crappie Basics: The Well-Stocked Tackle Box By Keith Sutton There are innumerable styles of tackle boxes on today’s market. The one you select will depend largely on how […]
Crappie Basics: Finding and Catching Crappie in Cold Weather
November is prime time for catching slab crappie. Knowing where fish move as water temperatures fall can help beginners find more of them. Crappie Basics: Finding and Catching Crappie in Cold Weather Story and photo by Keith Sutton November can be one of the most productive months for crappie fishing. As summer’s heat […]
Paddlin’ with Madalyn: Finding the Right Setup
Paddlin’ with Madalyn: Back to the Basics By Madalyn Roberts As my knowledge of different fishing techniques continues to grow, I feel more prepared to set myself up for success when I get out on the water. However much to my chagrin, not all the techniques I’ve picked up are easily replicated when fishing […]
Product Buzz, by Scott Mackenthun
Berkley Powerbait Drip Minnow 3" Realism of plastic minnows just took a giant leap forward. The Berkley Powerbait Drip Minnow features high-definition true colors, molded scale patterns, glitter flecks that mimic real fish, realistic eyes and even internal guts that are visible on translucent color patterns. If these minnows looked any more real, they’d [...]
CN How To Nov 2026 How To: Crappie Dan explains how shadows, current, and underwater structure influence crappie behavior.
How To: Crappie Dan explains how shadows, current, and underwater structure influence crappie behavior. In this episode of The Playbook, Crappie Dan explains how shadows, current, and underwater structure influence crappie and bass behavior. Fish often face into the current, positioning themselves where baitfish will naturally approach. During sunny conditions, they tend to hold in [...]