New to crappie fishing.

[Dan Neumann]

I've never done any crappie fishing before but would like to start doing some. What's the best bait/lure or just what's the best way to catch them, best time of year, best lakes, etc? I'm in Ocala and would like to fish local lakes for the most part but would travel too on occasion. TIA

[crp4570]

Never been to Florida but can give you some general advice. Read as many of the threads here as you can. There is a section for beginners. Next contact your local fish and wildlife officer to see if they give fishing seminars. Spend some time talking to the officers for advice. Also locate a local guide at one of the recommended crappie lakes and set up a day of fishing with him/her. Tell them you are a novice and need advice on everything and then go have a fun day. Next, locate a local crappie fishing club and ask to join or at least ask if someone is good mentoring. Maybe someone local to you will reply. In closing, on this forum there are state sub-forums. Locate yours and post looking for anyone local to you to help you out. Welcome to the site.

[Speckanator]

3rd week of September..... Shoot me a pm and we'll schedule a fishing day....

[TnT]

3rd week of September......Shoot Speckanator a PM. Make sure you take some BS waders and a Spam sandwich for Speckanator. Yall should do fine.

[Detailman]

Speck sounds like Tim is on some of that mind altering pain Medication. Heard he was the one that liked spam samiches fried with a big slice of onions and some goat cheese.

[specktacklure]

[Specklocker]

Hello Dan and welcome to CDC!
There are no lakes in Ocala. The best speck fishing lakes close to you are Lochloosa, Newnan's, Griffin and Lake Harris/Harris Chain(Leesburg) to name a few. All are within an hour's drive. The simple way to get started is to get a bucket of minnows, a #2 hook, sinker and a cork/bobber and troll a few (4-12) rods along side and around your boat. You can use any length rod. Longer rods are more common. For the purchase of your equipment, use he sponsors on his site. Look up crappie fishing, spider rigging on youtube to get a better understanding of he style of fishing you like best. Read, read, read the forums on his site! There is a ton of info here. Hope this helps getting you started.

[fishin813]

All excellant advice given by CRP & Specklocker.
Read the Florida Crappie Club forum - will give you a tremendous amount of
information on lakes in and around your area, time of year tournament was
held on lake - equipment used, depth fished and weight caught.
As stated: Lochloosa - Newmans - Sante-Fe - Inverness (Lake Harrison)
and Floral City are all within your driving distance.

Florida Crappie Club also has schedule of 20 tournaments a year as well as
club directors that can help you locate people that will be more than happy to help
you get started. Around the Ocala area that probably 10 excellant teams.
Send me a pm of what your looking for and want to do.
If you need a guide to help get off to good start down here, there are several
in your area.

Harold McGhee
fishin813
vp/sec Florida Crappie Club
813 215-9759
[email protected]