Five Secrets for Catching Alabama Crappie

Did you know that the state of Alabama has some of the best crappie fishing found anywhere in the United States? There are many ponds, streams and lakes located throughout Alabama where the crappies are plentiful. Crappies are one of the best tasting fish you can catch, which is one of the many reasons they are such a popular species.

You can go fishing for crappies anytime day or night and they are one of the easiest species to catch. However, it can be a little different fishing for crappies in Alabama than it is fishing in other states. If you have never been crappie fishing in Alabama the following five secrets should help you get off to a great start.

Five Alabama Crappie Fishing Secrets:

Know the Season - The season in which you go crappie fishing in Alabama will make a big difference in the way this species respond to your offerings. The spring is when they are the most plentiful and the most aggressive. They will strike at both live bait and artificial lures during this time so you have quite a few options. They will slow down and be less aggressive in the summer but they can still be caught fairly easy. The hardest time to catch crappies in Alabama is in the fall and winter months. They are less active and slow to respond when the water is cold.

Choose Your Bait Wisely - The crappie can see colors very well and tend to be more attractive to the bright colors such as the bright oranges, reds and even light blue and green. Of course, the depth in which you're fishing will determine the best color to use so you may need to do a little experimenting.

Minnows are an excellent choice for live baits but crappies will respond positively to worms, crawdads and bugs too.

Techniques - There are several techniques that can be used for crappie fishing in Alabama. Some of the most popular ones used here include flipping, jig and bobber, casting, still-fishing, drifting and trolling. Choose the one that suits your individual needs the best.

Fishing Gear - One of the reasons fishing for crappies is so popular in Alabama and other areas is because you don't need a lot of fancy equipment.

Stick to the basics and you will do fine. However, it is recommended that you use ultra-light rod and reels for the best results. Many anglers prefer to use the eight foot rod combined with three to six pound test line.

Don't Be Overly Aggressive - The crappie has a fragile mouth that will tear very easily if you jerk the line while they are trying to take the bait. Use a short flick of the wrist to set the hook and then gently reel in your catch.

Being overly aggressive will surely lead to losing your catch.