Opening Cast – Dec 2024

If you live in the sunny South where crappie fishing is king, these scenes are rare to non-existent.
However, it doesn’t mean the warm feelings of the coming Christmas aren’t inside… and dreams
of the fishing trips ahead. (Photo: Richard Simms)

Editorial opening,

Wow, this year has flown by!  Christmas is here and I hope all of you are enjoying family and friends.  I intended to send you my list for potential gifts you could buy but Mr. Keith Sutton did such a good job, I thought it would be great to use his list below.

God bless all of you and Merry Christmas!!
Dan Dannenmueller – PUBLISHER

Great Ideas for a Crappie Christmas

by Keith Sutton

If you are non-fisherperson searching for a Christmas Gift for a fisherperson, you likely feel quite lost when wandering down through the fishing gear aisles of your favorite outdoor store. Don’t worry – crappie fishing expert and CrappieNOW writer Keith Sutton to the rescue. He has the perfect list of ideas to choose the gift (or gifts) your fishing friend or loved one is sure to enjoy.

Are you searching for the perfect Christmas gift to give a family member or friend who enjoys crappie fishing?

Hundreds of great products for fishing enthusiasts have hit the marketplace just in time for the Holidays. Here are some you’ll certainly want to consider when you start shopping.

Rods and Reels

A quality crappie-fishing combo will make a thoughtful gift any panfish angler is sure to love. One to consider, regardless of who you’re buying for, is Buck’s Graphite Crappie Combo from B’n’M Poles. This lightweight outfit features a two-piece Buck’s Graphite Crappie Spinning Rod in 5-1/2- or 6-foot lengths paired with a smooth, reliable BM100 Spinning Reel. Panfish fans of all ages and skill levels will love its durability and sensitivity, whether they fish from a boat, kayak or shore. MSRP $50

If you want something a bit more high-tech, consider giving the Tackobox Slab Hunter spinning rod. This 10-foot, 2- piece, light-action graphite rod ($40) has the balance and action needed for jig fishing, spider rigging and drift fishing. Additionally, you can see and hear when fish nibble with the integrated Tackobox electronic bite alert. It’s great for day and night fishing and automatically shuts down the alarm system when you reel. It also features the Smart Connect Free app for Apple and Android phones with Ai Fish Identifier, Pin My Fishing Hole GPS, Weather Forecast, Social Media and more.

Crappie Fishing Lures

Consider putting together a selection of crappie lures you can use to fill your angler’s Christmas stocking or a new tacklebox. Our favorites for gifting are kits that include lures in a variety of colors and sizes, plus other useful items. For example, the Crappie Magnet Best of the Best 115-piece kit (MSRP $20) includes Crappie Magnet bodies in 12 colors, three sizes of Double Cross Heads and four E-Z Crappie Floats. Bobby Garland’s Take Me Too Panfishing Kit ($20) has multiple colors of Original Baby Shad and Hyper Grub bodies, jigheads to fit the plastics, a Thill spring bobber, a nylon stringer and a Plano box—just what’s needed to introduce someone to fishing by providing everything necessary for a great day on the water. Need something your angler can use regardless of the structure and water being fished? Get ‘em a Team Crappie 22-Piece All Conditions Kit ($12) with Slab Dragger and Crappie Tamer bodies, plus Original and Glow Road Runner heads in sizes 1/16 and 1/8 ounce.

Electronic Fish Finders

If your gift recipient has been extraordinarily good this year, you might consider giving them a gift card to buy the latest in forward-facing sonar, a new technology that can reveal crappie and display their actions in real time. Some models cost thousands of dollars, but the Lowrance Eagle Eye with an MSRP of $999 provides a crystal-clear picture of fish, objects and structure and is far more affordable than most. Garmin’s LiveScope systems cost more but have features that make them well worth the extra bucks.

Custom Engraved Fishing Tools

Personalized tools such as engraved multi-tools, fillet knives or pliers add a sentimental value to practical items. Many brands offer customization options to make these tools truly special. Through Leatherman’s Custom Shop, for example, you can add designs, text, art, patterns and your own images to a wide variety of multi-tools to create truly original gifts.

Digital Scales

The Rapala 20lb Hi Viz Digital Scale is a game-changer for tournament anglers. Its bright display is easy to see from anywhere on the boat, and it’s designed for five-fish, eight-fish or unlimited entry tournaments. The “versus mode” allows for live weigh-in competitions with friends, while the date and time stamp keeps accurate records. The large grip, high-visibility screen and secure clamp make it easy for anglers to weigh their catch, and the scale even saves weights to simplify culling. At $195, it makes a truly special gift for serious crappie anglers.

Portable Filet Tables

A compact, foldable fillet table like the GoPlus Folding Fish Table ($99) provides a convenient and hygienic workspace for cleaning crappie on the go. Features include a built-in sink, foldable rotatable faucet, sturdy metal legs and a spray nozzle with a garden-hose connector.

Books

Another great gift that will reel in any crappie angler’s attention is “Papermouth: Modern Crappie Techniques,” a 208-page book released in January by CrappieNOW senior writer Tim Huffman. This comprehensive guide is packed with the latest fishing strategies, covering both forward-facing sonar (FFS) tips and non-FFS techniques that will help anglers of all levels sharpen their skills. It’s available as a paperback ($13) or Kindle version ($4) on Amazon.com, along with several other crappie books by Huffman.

Guided Crappie-Fishing Trip

Still stumped on what to get the crappie angler in your life? A gift certificate for a guided crappie-fishing trip is a sure winner. Whether they’re a seasoned angler looking to sharpen their skills or a beginner eager to learn, this experience is one they’ll remember long after the trip. Professional guides bring local knowledge, expert tips and the right gear to make sure the day on the water is not only productive but also stress-free. Scenic City Fishing Charters in Chattanooga, Tennessee is just one guide service that has a simple system for buying Gift Certificates online.

But most guide services do the same. You can seek them out right here on CrappieNOW’s Find-a-Guide Page where you’ll find listings for 39 guide services in 17 states. Get in touch with your choice of guide services and ask them if they can prepare a gift certificate for your friend or loved one. Most will gladly do that.

Of course, this doesn’t begin to cover all the fishing-related gifts you have to choose from when making selections this holiday season, but for most crappie anglers, it is the thought that counts anyway. No matter what you give this Christmas, you know the person who receives it will be thinking good thoughts of you when they use it. Happy holidays!

Keith Sutton is editor of our sister magazine at CatfishNOW.com. He’s been an avid crappie angler for more than half a century, pursuing his favorite panfish on waters throughout the United States. His fishing stories have been read by millions in hundreds of books, magazines, newspapers and Internet publications. In 2021, he was inducted into the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame.