Pro Crappie Fishing Tips: Time to Catch More Fish!

One of the things that really separates crappie fishing from all the other sub varieties of sports fishing is that it can easily be enjoyed by both adults and kids. Of course, when you are out in the water, you don't want yourself or your child to struggle with strikes. That's why it is imperative that you learn time-tested techniques that will help you attract more strikes and, ultimately, more crappies in your tank/cooler.

Here are some pro tips to ensure that you (and anyone else on your boat) enjoy your fishing trip. Nothing beats more catches!

1. If you want to really hone your skills in fishing for crappies, you may want to explore the possibility of setting up a spider rig on your boat. A spider rig is essentially a multi-rod setup that will allow you to cover more ground through troll fishing. What's really great about spider rigging is that you can use a variety of lures and techniques to ensure optimum strike rate when you are in the water.

For example, some sportsmen like taking advantage of variable depths, so what they do is actually use different line lengths for each of the rods. Other crappie enthusiasts use spider rigs to test lures and lure combinations. For example, rod number one will have a fishing light, a Road Runner, and live bait. Rod number two will be equipped with a single jig, with nothing else. A beginner can easily learn a ton of information about crappie behavior by using a spider rig in this manner.

2. Like other more formidable game fishes, crappies do migrate from one place to another on a regular basis. However, there is a big difference as to how fish move in the water. Larger fish like salmon tend to challenge any kind of countercurrent, so they can travel in a relatively straight path.

Crappies, on the other hand, prefer avoiding countercurrents. Instead of directly fighting the current, crappies will travel using slow or stagnant waters. If there is an area of fast moving current, this current will carry the crappies away, and if the crappies are moving against the general direction of the strong current, they will do so by using slower-moving waters near the bank.

3. If you happen to find yourself in an area where the water depth is consistent and there isn't a lot of strong current, you can expect to find crappies hiding out in tree brushes near the bank of the river. Stone structures in the water can also serve as refuge for crappies, so fishing around stone structures is definitely a good idea.

If you can't find the crappies immediately, it may be time to change your fishing depth. Lengthening your line or using a lead line would help at this point. Do not forget to use a sinker to ensure that your lead line reaches its target depth!