Good Ole Paper mouth Crappie

Crappies are called "paper mouths" with good reason. It's easy to tear the hook from their mouth if you apply too much pressure or jerk too hard. You should set the hook with a smooth upward motion with your pole. In the spring Crappie move onto the banks to spawn around brush, piers, and boat docks. Large Crappie can be caught at this time of year very easily. Best baits are live minnows fished under slip bobbers, small jigs with plastic twister tails, or tube jigs. Crappie are layer fish, what this means is they will be at a certain depth in the lake, pond or river you fish. Crappies are common in lakes and reservoirs.

Crappies are among the most sought-after game fish to eat by fishermen. They are widespread throughout the States, very abundant in many waters and excellent table fare. Crappies are most often caught in the spring time when the annual spawn occurs but can be caught year round. They become less active in very cold water or very warm water. Black Crappie eats during the day and at night, but they feed mostly during the evening. They like water with lots of plants and underwater structures, such as logs, stumps, and rocks. Black crappies growth is somewhat less than that of white crappie, but they are heavier at the same length.

The young attain body lengths of 2 to 3 inches in the first year of life and mature during the second or third year. Black and white crappies are members of the sunfish family, along with bass and bream. In all species of this family, the males hollow out nests and guard the eggs and young fish.
Black crappies seem to dominate in clearer, more acidic waters. Crappie fishing is always good around brush and grass on jigs and shiners. Black crappies prefer clear, weed-covered reservoirs also. Spawning in 3 to 8 feet of water during the spring, males scoop out gravel nests crowded together among aquatic vegetation.

Crappies are also school fish and can be caught by still-fishing, casting, trolling or drifting. Spring is still the best time to catch crappie as they are involved in their spawning runs. Crappies are maybe the most angler-friendly fish when it comes to catching. Even so, some days the best anglers get skunked. Crappies are a favorite of many fisherman and most pond owners wish to stock crappie in their ponds. However, crappie can be difficult to manage in small ponds due to their ability to reproduce rapidly and overpopulate.

Crappies are sought after by both bank and boat anglers. Typically, minnows are the preferred bait, often producing monumental results when a school is located, usually around submerged trees, boat docks, or other submerged structures. Crappie are found in almost all warm waters of the states, but are more abundant in large impoundments, natural lakes and backwaters. White crappies are more common in large reservoirs and tend to be more tolerant to turbid conditions.

Crappies are active during winter and can be fished through the ice. Crappies readily take small minnows or grubs placed on small hooks and jigs. Crappies are just one of the many species of fish available to the avid fisherman! So good luck with your Crappie fishing and I hope you catch a mounter.