Kris Mann, with a bragging-sized November slab, said November is a great time to crappie fish.
He said crappie get into a pattern and are very predictable. (Photo courtesy Kris Mann)
November: A Great Time to Give Thanks for Crappie
by Tim Huffman
Thanksgiving is a special time for most people. Families gather to visit and share a huge feast. Each family has a different tradition, but many include time afield or on the water with generations of sportsmen and women. Here are some great November crappie fishing tips, and their own Thanksgiving family traditions, from expert crappie anglers.
Russ Bailey
A new member of the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame is Russ Bailey, host of Brushpile Fishing, said “I spend time with my family on Thanksgiving. My family and I are very thankful for everything in our life so it’s a good time. But the day after Thanksgiving, the ladies go shopping, so I get my time to go fishing.
“I live in Ohio, so my water is not iced over yet,” said Bailey. “The crappie have moved back into the shallows where they were during the spring. I use a jig-and-cork rig to fish the shorelines of Lake Erie. Water is cold but the fish are accustomed to it up north. I like a 1/64-ounce jig, and I fish one to two feet deep under a cork. The fish are super-aggressive, and their size is incredible. It’s a great way to catch fish and one of my favorite times to fish.”
Blair Clay
“On Thanksgiving, I spend time with my family,” said Blair Clay, expert crappie fisherman on southern lakes and pro staff with B’n’M Poles, War Eagle Boats and Crappie Magnet. “If I’m not working at the fire station, I’ll be with my family.
I value my time with them. It’s God, family and then the rest of the stuff.
“November is still relatively warm in the south but can include some cold blasts. The fish are gorging on shad. I’m often fishing off points near creeks, always looking for baitfish schools. Crappie are up in the water column so it’s easier to get baits to them.
“Spider rigging is good this time of year if you don’t want to fish with forward-facing sonar. You can troll with basic electronics, catch a lot of fish and have a fun day. It’s an awesome time of year.”
Kris Mann
“Thanksgiving is a great time,” said Kris Mann, pro staffer for Sea Ark Boats, B’n’M Poles, Crappie Magnet and others. “The day is spent with family and we gather to eat. Maybe after that, dad and I will talk about easing out and getting a little fishing in. We’ve had a lot of Thanksgiving trips, but we will try Friday or Saturday if we don’t get out Thanksgiving.
“All of November is good, but it starts interfering with hunting. The fish start getting predictable that time of year. They get into a pattern, and the weather is usually stable, so everything is good.”
Mann said that it’s important to know where your bait is located.
“The fish are active and feeding, but you must put the bait where they want it. I think the fish feed heavily in the fall and throughout the winter. They have no problem catching what they want to eat. I think they are feeding up for the spawning process because in November and December they are starting to develop eggs. They are not starving but they know they need to be feeding.
“You can find fish going off the main lake and into the tributaries, but not far up into the tributary. They’ll be at a creek intersection or on a bend. That gives them the opportunity to be deep or feed up shallow, having anything they need in one location. Big crappie like being on bends whether they have current or not.”
Mann said fish depth depends upon light penetration. They might be up at three feet, but a cold front may push them down to 25 feet. He believes that fish will get close to cover after a front because of the warmth, not just protection.
“Forward-facing sonar is not required to catch crappie, but it’s a great tool. We don’t have to guess what fish are doing. We are catching open water fish now that use to never get caught. People didn’t know they were there. I think it has surprised most of us how many big crappie are just suspended out. I thought for years most were in cover for protection from predators. However, I now believe trophy-size crappie don’t mind open water because they are big enough they don’t have too many predators. I see some bigger fish relating to structure, but they are not in or on it, just near it. If they need the cover, it’s close. This time of year, a fisherman can see the big crappie on open water relating to schools of baitfish. Crappie just swim around picking them off baitfish.”
A wildcard tip from Mann: fish are transitioning into their winter pattern during November.
“They often follow shad, so look for places where shad will be, like a bridge over the channel. Baitfish will relate to the concrete and feed on the algae. Also, rocks and concrete in shallow water are great places to check in November, too.”
Final Thoughts
November is a fantastic time to catch crappie. Mix in some time on the water with Thanksgiving family get-togethers to get the best of both.
CrappieNOW senior writer and Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame member, Tim Huffman, has several books, including his newest, Papermouth, Modern Fishing Techniques, available in Kindle or paperback at Amazon, or link from his website, www.monstercrappie.com
