Thread: Ever seen a Crappie bite ?

He went down to the bait.

As fast as they can inhale a bait they can spit it. This is the reason why I think scent can be important. I don't think it makes them bite but I do think it will make them hold on to the bait a bit longer.

NIMROD, thanks for posting. Like a snappin' turtle - the actual strike is fast.

Just found this awesone video of crappie biting underwater

https://youtu.be/xLmJm2Iu_3Q?si=COEIH3b60dLDxnbc

Had a couple of Crappie in my aquarium, years ago, and when I would dump two or three minnows in the tank they wouldn't last long, but the Crappie wouldn't chase them. They'd just stay in their usual spot and inhale any minnow stupid enough to get in their face. Oddly enough, though, if the minnows happened to dive for the bottom, the Crappie would simply go vertical and pin them against the bottom rocks and expel the rocks that happened to get sucked up with the minnow. I don't remember either of them ever "missing" a minnow that they went after. When I put a small Warmouth in with them, I had to make sure it got a couple of nightcrawlers before I introduced any minnows ... otherwise the Warmouth would chase the minnows around the tank until it had all or most of them in its mouth, and the Crappie would just stay out of its way.

Originally Posted by Happyfisherman

I noticed a lot of commotion on top of the water the other day and fish were eating tiny little bugs. Started casting my power nymph through the commotion and caught a couple crappie and bass

I have pitched tiny plastic baits right on surface in ponds . Crappie were feeding on bugs late evening on the surface .

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Had a couple of Crappie in my aquarium, years ago, and when I would dump two or three minnows in the tank they wouldn't last long, but the Crappie wouldn't chase them. They'd just stay in their usual spot and inhale any minnow stupid enough to get in their face. Oddly enough, though, if the minnows happened to dive for the bottom, the Crappie would simply go vertical and pin them against the bottom rocks and expel the rocks that happened to get sucked up with the minnow. I don't remember either of them ever "missing" a minnow that they went after. When I put a small Warmouth in with them, I had to make sure it got a couple of nightcrawlers before I introduced any minnows ... otherwise the Warmouth would chase the minnows around the tank until it had all or most of them in its mouth, and the Crappie would just stay out of its way.

I am always telling folks Crappie sit static much of the time. Hold a jig as still as possible right above their nose. Many times it will need to be held what seems like a minute before they strike . Livescope sure taught us alot . Some want to jig it up and down, seen it actually spook Crappie.

Originally Posted by Happyfisherman

Just found this awesone video of crappie biting underwater

https://youtu.be/xLmJm2Iu_3Q?si=COEIH3b60dLDxnbc

Here Crappie spend much of their time roaming open water. Suspended or on the bottom. Most of the time here we hold a jig on their nose or just above , Jig the bait much and seen it spook them. After that big cold front they had been suspended in 15 to 20' of water. Then post front they were hard to see right on the bottom 20+ water . But hold a jig on them and it was still possible to catch limits .