• Never stop learning or wanting to learn - by Kdavid1

    I began my “crappier fishing” 13 years ago when I moved to Mississippi. Growing up from 12 years old through my early 20’s I pond fished every day for bream and bass. As I got older and had the means I branched out into fly-fishing and the occasional trip to a lake to fish in a boat. That type of fishing was all I knew so when I moved to Mississippi and was invited by a friend at work to go crappie fishing with him at Sardis — I went along. For those 12 years I thought the only way you crappie fished was getting out in the middle of the lake with bass rods and crappie jigs and drifting with the wind because that was the only way he fished for crappie and we did catch fish. Now I never caught as many as he did but I became a crappie fisherman then.



    When I got my boat last year and started going on my own fishing the same way I immediately started catching twice as many fish as I ever did with my buddy and that is where I started to learn. I wound up on Crappie.com and started doing research and asking questions. The more I learned from this the more I wanted to learn and understand. This led me into what technique I wanted to use which inevitably brought me to spider rigging. Keep in mind the only way I had crappie fished before was drifting and at the beginning had zero reference to use between the two techniques.



    My first way to learn was observation followed by questions about what I had observed. Then I tried it out with someone. Once I let that information soak in and understood the basics of the technique I had a reference I could use from drifting to spider rigging which then led to the questions and learning the specifics in detail about spider rigging which lead to the purchase of the proper equipment to set up a boat and fully begin using this technique (much to the chagrin of my wife) Again working to fully understand what was going on while using this technique and newly acquired gear led to further questions and learning. Once those items were understood the questions and learning still keep coming but as things progress the catching gets better and better and the fishing more fun. As most know and would agree you never stop learning and should never stop wanting to learn.

    Comments 53 Comments
    1. "G"'s Avatar
      "G" -
      Very good read KDavid.....everyone should read this for sure.
    1. drifterdon's Avatar
      drifterdon -
      Thanks for sharing
    1. Rees Guide's Avatar
      Rees Guide -
      Giid read my friend, looking forward to the water coming up so we can fish again, no more low water levels!!
    1. KDAVID1's Avatar
      KDAVID1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by jig rig View Post
      Great post. Have you tried tight line with one jig? slip cork? or swimming a jig? Swimming a jig is my favorite.

      Tight lines
      Jig Rig
      Thanks. I have used all of the above methods at one time or another. When i drift fished I only used one jig on each pole mostly--I actually like that type of fishing as well--very laid back and actually alot of the things from Spider rigging can be used for drifting as well. I like it all for sure.
    1. KDAVID1's Avatar
      KDAVID1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by Mikie View Post
      I am trying to learn but still catch most fish by accident, which means the fish was in the wrong place at the right time for me.
      I feel the same way most of the time.
    1. KDAVID1's Avatar
      KDAVID1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by royinlox View Post
      My learning is going to be this season at lake okeechobee fl i will try for the first time trolling. I have always used one pole in the bull-rushes and pads but now have my boat set up with pole holders from lake talquin fl
      Good luck to you. I would bet you will be successful the first time out.
    1. KDAVID1's Avatar
      KDAVID1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by Rees Guide View Post
      Giid read my friend, looking forward to the water coming up so we can fish again, no more low water levels!!
      thanks and
    1. KDAVID1's Avatar
      KDAVID1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by "G" View Post
      Very good read KDavid.....everyone should read this for sure.
      Thanks G I really appreciate it.
    1. KDAVID1's Avatar
      KDAVID1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by Lotech Joe View Post
      Good read. I'm still waiting for my learning curve to flatten a little. I don't ever want it to go away, just flatten somewhat. In my state, (Washington) you can only fish with one rod unless you buy a multiple rod license. Then you can only fish with two. For now, I'm going to stick with one rod because I like to feel the nibble and hook set.
      Thank you--I know mine will never flatten.

      Quote Originally Posted by Idunno View Post
      I started about a year ago and have learned gobs about crappie from the people on this site since then. Just last night, I was trying to figure how far I have come. I started wondering, 25% of the way?

      That was silly thinking. I have a l-o-n-g way to go.
      AHMEN

      Quote Originally Posted by retiredcop48 View Post
      I can relate to this article. I'm 64 years old and have been fishing most of my life. I retired 6 years ago and started to read more about crappie fishing and fishing more. The more I read the more I learned about crappie fishing, and realized I was not a crappie fisherman. Like you over the past few years I have watched the number and size of the crappie I catch really increase. I thought that a 9 to 10 inch crappie was a good fish. Now a good fish is between 12 to 15 inches. So keep the articles coming I still have a lot more to learn.


      Thanks Larry (retiredcop48)
      it is funny it spoils you crappie fishing in MS. I never realized the crappie I was catching the previous year were Big--didn't know any better Now that I do consider myself a Crappie fisherman--I understand what a big fish is

      Quote Originally Posted by billbob View Post
      good read
      Tks. I have witnesses

      Quote Originally Posted by fliesforall View Post
      I like you have been fishing all my life and only recently have started targeting crappie other than the occasional spring spawn bite and it has been lots of fun getting to learn new stuff and accumulate new equipment.
      Quote Originally Posted by kycreekboy View Post
      Good read & pics.
      Thanks.

      Quote Originally Posted by revitup View Post
      i enjoyed the article--never have spider rigged. Always enjoy that thump with tightlining a jig.
      Thank you. I am very glad you enjoyed it.

      Quote Originally Posted by cray View Post
      Way to go Kdavid1. Really good article.
      Tks

      Quote Originally Posted by RetiredRR View Post
      Very informative article. I'm a single poler unless I'm driftin', then I'll try two poles. Have tried draggin' small cranks and even
      caught crappie. Recently caught a crappie on a chatter-bait, and was surprised. Jiggin' with a crappie jig and pullin' a chatter-bait
      can produce when you least expect it.
      Tks

      Quote Originally Posted by feeshrman View Post
      nice article, and very accurate, a good feeshrman never stops learning.
      Tks

      Quote Originally Posted by Big H trucking View Post
      He left out the part i thought him everything i know....:D:D:D:D
      That's why I talk with Feelay all the time Did learn some from you for sure.

      Quote Originally Posted by rducks123 View Post
      Good read KDavid1.
      Quote Originally Posted by drifterdon View Post
      Thanks for sharing
      Quote Originally Posted by Rees Guide View Post
      Giid read my friend, looking forward to the water coming up so we can fish again, no more low water levels!!
    1. maachuu's Avatar
      maachuu -
      good post K
    1. KDAVID1's Avatar
      KDAVID1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by maachuu View Post
      good post K
      Thanks man I appreciate it!!
    1. Donald@CrappieLogic's Avatar
      Donald@CrappieLogic -
      good read mike !!
    1. KDAVID1's Avatar
      KDAVID1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by Donald@CrappieLogic View Post
      good read mike !!
      Thanks dude--we need to go fishing
    1. Heritage's Avatar
      Heritage -
      Good article!
    1. KDAVID1's Avatar
      KDAVID1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by Heritage View Post
      Good article!
      Thanks and welcome to Crappie.com!!
    1. Heritage's Avatar
      Heritage -
      Quote Originally Posted by KDAVID1 View Post
      Thanks and welcome to Crappie.com!!
      Thanks, I am really enjoying this site!
    1. ifish4redd's Avatar
      ifish4redd -
      great article,
    1. ronetone's Avatar
      ronetone -
      good reading i'm always learning new things through these articles
    1. boatdocksam's Avatar
      boatdocksam -
      good read
    1. Lundfisher's Avatar
      Lundfisher -
      Very good read.
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