Trolling beginner and Black Crappie Question - Newbie

**HuntFishDine** · 08-06-2025, 03:12 PM

I'm new to the site and new to trolling for crappie. I'm just getting set up. I bought some line counter reels and some Arkie 350's and Bandit 300's with a few other 200's etc. I have a bay boat so I'm setting up my rods on Seasucker rod holders and in my boats rod holders. I've been watching videos, reading posts, and doing as much research as I can.

While researching,, I noticed one thing... I only see White Crappie in pictures and trolling videos, no Blacks. The lake that I have been fishing holds mostly Black Crappie. I fished there Sunday and could not get them to bite on my piles because of the heat so I tried pulling a few crankbaits for the first time. The lake had a lot of rain the night before and had changed from last week, I couldn't find the shad so I quit after a few pulls with no luck. I really didn't give it much of a go because I ran out of time and had to leave.

Am I wasting my time pulling baits for Black Crappie in this lake? Does anyone here catch Blacks trolling?

**keeferfish** · 08-06-2025, 04:24 PM

I don't troll but crappie are crappie IMO.

**CrappiePappy** · 08-06-2025, 06:33 PM

Maybe try smaller cranks (or jigs) for Black Crappie. And if the water temps are high, troll as close to the bottom as feasible (unless you have a thermocline, then troll right across the top edge of it).

You might also identify the LA lake you're fishing & you may get some tips from our LA members.

to Crappie.com & Luck2ya in all your

adventures.

**HuntFishDine** · 08-06-2025, 08:18 PM

I’m fishing Indian Creek in LA. It’s been good tight lining but has slowed down due to the temps etc. I thought I would try to target some fish in open water. I was seeing the thermocline with bait last week but Sunday it was just a bit different.

I’ll probably try again.

Thanks for the info, anything is helpful.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**BuckeyeCrappie** · 08-06-2025, 08:55 PM

Look for high concentrations bait balls and Crappie should be close behind. Also troll at 1.6-1.8 mph. Smaller cranks is one idea but it hasn’t mattered much to me. I generally troll about 1 ft above any schools I can see on my electronics. Hope this helps a little.

**wannabe fisherman** · 08-07-2025, 05:06 AM

to the VERY BEST

site on the web!!

**ripnlips** · 08-07-2025, 06:27 AM

I usually catch both trolling but agree that most are white crappie.

**Ranger R61** · 08-07-2025, 06:36 AM

It might help if you used poles not piles. HAHA

**HuntFishDine** · 08-07-2025, 07:44 AM

Trolling beginner and Black Crappie Question - Newbie

guess I should have said brush piles!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**tnduxcaller** · 08-07-2025, 09:37 AM

I understood brush piles!!!! I did not figure you were using your hands. I figured you were catching them on a pole.

Thread: Trolling beginner and Black Crappie Question - Newbie

Thread Tools

Display

Trolling beginner and Black Crappie Question - Newbie

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions