Techniques That Catch Summertime Crappie by Brad Wiegmann

Dedicated crappie anglers never stop fishing even through the hot months of the year. Instead they change from shallow water techniques that were productive during the spring to more appropriate deep water tactics. Two of the best deep water techniques are tightlining and pulling or pushing crankbaits.



Professional crappie angler and 2011-2012 Bass Pro Shops Crappiemaster Points Champion, Dan Dannemueller, has weathered many a hot summer while out chasing crappie. “During the hottest part of summer you can expect crappie to move deep around structure or cover. This year has been a little different in the fact that some of the Southern reservoirs aren’t as hot as normal,” Dannemueller continued, “the crappie seem to be a little shallower compared to other years, but tightlining and pulling or pushing crankbaits are still the best two techniques for catching crappie for the next month or so.”

Before fishing either technique or even wetting a line, Dannemueller begins by idling around the river or reservoir looking for crappie, baitfish, cover and structure. “When I am idling around, I’m looking at where schools of baitfish are located and around what kind of cover or structure is in the reservoir. Also I want to know what depth the crappie are suspending at,” explained Dannemueller.



His boat is loaded with high quality marine electronics including a 1198 Humminbird with Side Imaging beside the driver’s console on Dannemueller Ranger Z521C and a smaller 1158 Humminbird with Down Image on the bow. Both units are capable of indicating where baitfish, cover, structure and crappie are located as Dannemueller idles around canvassing productive looking areas. “Many crappie anglers overlook how vital doing sonar scouting is to the success of catching crappie,” pointed out Dannemueller.

Tightlining or jigging during the summer is Dannemueller’s favorite way to catch crappie. He will focus on deep brush piles. These brush piles are usually put in the reservoirs on key areas like around boat docks or points.
Productive docks are easy to locate. Dannemueller looks for some type of lights that will draw in bugs or baitfish. He also looks for docks that have rod holders that indicate that the dock boat owner has placed a brush pile adjacent to the dock.

Dannemueller makes his own homemade rigs for tightlining.

Steps to making a homemade Dannemueller Rig for tightlining:

1. Tie a snap lock to the main fishing line (Orange colored 10 pound test Lake Fork Trophy Lures Fluorotex Panfish line) from the rod.

2. Attach a Thundermist T-Turn 3-way swivel.

3. On to one end of the 3-way swivel attach a Blakemore Mr. Crappie MC35X-1 or MC35X-2. It’s a pre-tied leader to a Blood Red Tru Turn Hook either a #1 or #2 sized hook.

4. On the other end of the remaining 3-way swivel without anything attached tie a length of fishing line 32-inches long with two less pounds of test strength than the other shorter line. Slide a ½-ounce egg sinker up the line and thread the line through the egg weight four times. This will hold the egg weight in place. On the end of the remaining line tie a Mo’ Glo jig head rigged with a Bobby Garland Baby Shad, Minnow Mind’R or Slab Slayer.

*Dannenmueller uses a 1/16- to 3/8-ounce weight Mo’ Glo jig head or Road Runner. The Mo’ Glo jig head with either a #1 or #2 hook will have a 2½-inch soft plastic Baby Shad, Minnow Mind’R or Slab Slayer. He will often use a bigger size of soft plastic in reservoirs with large crappie.

During the summer months, Dannemueller will slow up when tightlining. “I like to troll .1- to .2-mph. The crappie will be suspended and the bite is very light,” advised Dannenmueller.

Another option right now for catching crappie is pulling or pushing crankbaits. “A great place to crappie fish pulling or pushing crankbaits right now is on Lake Grenada in Mississippi. The crappie have moved out of the timber following and feeding on groups of shad,” noted Dannenmueller.

There are several lure manufactures that have crankbaits just for crappie fishing. “A Bandit 200 or 300 model or a Bass Pro Crappie Maxx Crank are examples of two popular crankbaits,” Dannenmueller continued, “they come in a wide variety of colors that catch crappie.”

His typical set up when pulling or pushing crankbaits is tying the main line from the rod to a Thundermist T-Turn 3-way swivel with one line out of the swivel having a three foot leader and crankbait tied on the end while the other a three foot leader with a 3-ounce weight attached to the end of it.

When pushing crankbaits, Dannemueller will troll at .7- to .8-mph, but speeds up to 1.0- to 1.2-mph when pulling crankbaits off the back end of the boat.

Crankbaits can also be trolled out the side of the boat. “The general rule of thumb is to divide by 10 the total distance of line let out to estimate the depth the crankbait is running. Of course crankbaits are limited to how deep it can run according to its lip and lure design,” explained Dannemueller.