OPENING CAST OCT 2026
The Fall Crappie Fisherman
There’s a certain kind of fisherman who appears every October. You can spot him pretty easily.
He’s the guy digging through the closet for a jacket he hasn’t worn since last winter. He’s checking the weather forecast three or four times a day. He’s watching the water temperature. He’s wondering whether the crappie have moved yet and, more importantly, whether they’ve moved to his favorite spot.
Farm Pond Crappie
Small farm ponds can produce big crappie with proper management. Farm Pond Crappie By Brent Frazee Photos courtesy of Jason Harris You won’t find Jason Harris’ favorite crappie-fishing spot on the Kansas state map. He fishes reservoirs such as Council Grove, Melvern and Pomona, especially in the winter. But when he wants to […]
Tips for Slow Days
When the crappie bite gets tough, changing the direction of your presentation can sometimes make all the difference. Tips for Slow Days By Bernard Williams Photos by Keith Sutton Every crappie fisherman has experienced one of those days. You know exactly what I’m talking about—the days when nothing you try seems to work. [...]
Arkansas’ Lake Ouachita: Where Smart Crappie Fishing Pays Off
Oklahoma crappie pro Todd Huckabee used a detailed game plan to help him find Lake Ouachita’s clear-water slabs the first time he fished this huge impoundment. Arkansas’ Lake Ouachita: Where Smart Crappie Fishing Pays Off Story and photos by Keith Sutton Some crappie lakes give up their secrets easily. Lake Ouachita isn’t one [...]
Future Fisherman Foundation Gets New Home With Fishing’s Future
Future Fisherman Foundation Gets New Home With Fishing’s Future Courtesy of The Fishing Wire In September, Fishing’s Future, a national leader in family‑centered angling education, announced the acquisition of the Future Fisherman Foundation (F3), an organization whose programs have supported national angler recruitment, educator training and youth fishing initiatives for four decades. This historic […]
Crappie Basics: Four Simple Tips for Better Long-Pole Jigging
Long-pole jigging works great for catching crappie in brush and timber. Crappie Basics: Four Simple Tips for Better Long-Pole Jigging With Tim Huffman, MonsterCrappie.com Fishing a jig with a long pole is one of the most effective ways to catch crappie around brush, timber and other cover. But a few simple refinements can make […]
Crappie Basics: Match the Hatch for More Crappie
Matching your jig to the size and shape of the main crappie forage can greatly increase your number of hookups. Crappie Basics: Match the Hatch for More Crappie By Keith Sutton One of the simplest ways to improve your crappie fishing is to give the fish what they’re already looking for. That means […]
Paddlin’ with Madalyn: Finding the Right Setup
Paddlin’ with Madalyn: Stay Safe, Be Seen by Madalyn Roberts Before taking a kayak out on the water, be sure to familiarize yourself with the light requirements for your setup. From sunset to sunrise—and during other times of restricted visibility such as rain or heavy fog—kayaks that are paddled by hand or pedal-powered require some [...]