OPENING CAST OCT 2024
Wow, fall is upon us!!! I just don’t know where this year has gone.
Interestingly, we are already seeing the temperatures change and we are finally getting some very much needed rain. This signals to every living thing that it must change with the weather and that means the crappie bite is going to be improving!
With all the heat this summer, many fish and animals have been lethargic at best. Couple this with low rainfall and low water flow in many areas and it leads to low oxygen levels. It is no wonder that the fish were not moving much.
Kent Driscoll Inducted into Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame
Most people are fortunate if they ever catch a single 3-pound crappie. Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame member Kent Driscoll has done it 30 times! Kent Driscoll Inducted into Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame He was already a legend in the world of crappie fishing, but now Kent Driscoll is […]
Hair or Plastic? How to Choose Your Weapons, by Brent Frazee
It is a debate as old as crappie fishing itself – hair or plastic, which is best? (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor) Hair or Plastic? How to Choose Your Weapons by Brent Frazee Kim Burnett will tell you that hair jigs are all you need to catch crappies year-round. Gary Dollahon says you have to […]
Technique-Specific Rods for Crappie, by Tim Huffman
Barry Morrow is famous for jigging. He uses a stiff Todd Huckabee rod and heavy line to feel more bites and to quickly swing fish into the boat. (Photo by Tim Huffman) Technique-Specific Rods for Crappie by Tim Huffman Choosing the right screwdriver, wrench or other tool is important for doing a job right. It’s […]
Crappie Basics: Make ‘Em Eat with FFS
Crappie guide Kayle Ward shares his best crappie-catching tips in this Crappie Connection Podcast. Crappie Basics: Make ‘Em Eat with FFS Crappie guides have become leading experts in forward-facing sonar (FFS) in recent years. The new technology has led to more consistent bites, which in turn has driven interest and growth in crappie fishing. This [...]
Crappie Basics: New Alabama Boating Law, by Richard Simms
Anyone who operates a boat in Alabama needs to be aware of a strict new law going into effect Oct. 1, 2024. ALL non-residents will be required to have passed a certified boating safety course. (Photo: Richard Simms) Crappie Basics: New Alabama Boating Law by Richard Simms If you are planning a crappie fishing […]
Wireless Integration for your Electronics, by Brad Wiegmann
Control tool bar allows an angler to select popular navigation modes. (Photo by Brad Wiegmann) Wireless Integration for your Electronics by Brad Wiegmann Integration is a key word when talking about marine electronics. You can connect to one or more units in a boat and control multiple screens; in addition to a pilot mode that […]
Catching Crappie in Transition, by Steve McCadams
Steve McCadams shows off a slab caught during the October “transition period” as air and water temperatures begin to moderate, often inspiring crappie to become more aggressive. Catching Crappie in Transition by Steve McCadams For the lion’s share of the crappie world, it has been a hot and dry summer. In the South […]
Hayden Jeffries’s Fall/Winter Secrets, by Ron Wong
Hayden Jeffries has been a powerhouse in crappie tournaments in recent years and now enjoys guiding clients. He tells CrappieNOW writer Ron Wong that he loves the Fall and Winter bite, and that, “The colder it gets, the better the bite gets.” (Photo courtesy Hayden Jeffries Fishing) Hayden Jeffries’s Fall/Winter Secrets by Ron Wong […]
Lure of the Month: TTI Blakemore Slab Spanker, by Terry Madewell
Lure of the Month: TTI Blakemore Slab Spanker by Terry Madewell To succeed immediately in the competitive crappie lure fishing market, a lure should meet two specific criteria. First, it must produce crappie, preferably under various fishing situations and via different techniques during the year. It is a challenging task, but it’s a required quality […]
The Great Outdoors, Too Much Screen Time, by Larry Whiteley
I LOVE AUTUMN by Larry Whiteley Autumn is a time that lingers in your heart and mind. After a hot summer, cooler temperatures refresh our bodies and souls. The landscape is awash with colors. Sunsets are coppery. Something within you yearns to be outdoors soaking in the many wonders of the autumn season. Some of […]
Crappie Dan talks about the Barnett Reservoir
Dan Dannenmueller discusses why Barnett Reservoir is a great crappie fishing destination. It’s rated in the top ten crappie lakes in the country according to CrappieNOW's Top 12 Lakes.