Why are Crappie so difficult for so many to catch

[SuperDave336]

If everything is the same it could just be the angler and how they present the bait. Some give more action to baits than others. It doesn’t take much to make a jig really move. Also, confidence I think pays a part of it as well. And always use scent!

[Mstr Dan]

As my dear old grandpa use to say, "you gotta hold your mouth right" LOL But seriously I think sometimes people get use to have a strong hit and don't notice the light hit of a crappie. Also, some folk make it look easy while folk like me are just happy to catch a few. The challenge of finding them and getting them into the boat is what keeps me chasing them. Not everyone can be a Ketchn!. I have improved a bit but I don't limit out. I am a single pole guy and don't do live scope. I just love the challenge.

[UnLikeU]

Not sure about other parts of the country, but in south Louisiana crappie, aka sac a lait, are consistently caught by only a select few. This seems to hold true through the years. I’m 71yo, but in my 20’s I saw the same thing.

example - 7 boats in a small dead end location canal and only one guy in a single boat is consistently catching fish. The successful angler is generous to share his knowledge, baits, and tactics. Still the others are not catching. That was ~50 years ago.

Yesterday - Fishing near an expert, both of us using livescope. He catches 54, I didn’t catch a single crappie. We spend some time fishing near one another, while he gives me pointers. In spite of his help. No fish.

If this was a rare situation, it would be understandable. But the expert consistently catches large number of fish while the great majority of other avid sac a lait fisherman catch hardly any. By the way, I had the expert on my boat last week and he setup my Garmin and caught 20 fish on a “bad” day.

I’ve spent a large portion of my 71 years catching a lot more than most, except crappie. What makes them so persnickety and elusive to most fishermen? My brother and I have targeted crappie for the last 18 months, fishing nearly once a week. We like the fact that they are a challenge, but never dreamed they would be this hard to catch.

Have others experienced this same phenomena?

Danny

@Deadly Dan I don't know if you felt me hugging you after you made this post through the air or not! FANTASTIC POST! Quite frankly the world needs more of this. I've been in this similar situation but we will discuss this later because this is about YOU & YOUR POST!. Even though your personal situation has differences I will tell you what was done & discovered the 2 times it's happened with me.
*1. They were putting an action on the bait not attractive to the Crappie
(Solution: Too Much Bait Movement. You need to think of moving like a bait fish or bait. )
*2. They were not at the depth the Crappie found interest in
(Solution: They wanted to fish at the same depth of the fish. Crappie have eyes above their heads & feed Up or Down mainly vs horizontal at the same level)
*3. They didn't know how to detect the bite
(Solution: They were straight getting bit on the drop & didn't know the fish already had it in it's mouth swimming UP or it bit & didn't run with it. All can be seen on LivesScope that you said you have to stop DAT!.)
*4. They were fishing for the "WRONG SPECIES OF FISH"
(Solution: They had to stop fishing for Dots & learn what the Dot's Were. Sand Bass & Bass normally are higher up in the water column and they swim sporadic & around trees. Get that bait too close & they are "GONE WITH THE WIND". Crappie are Prey & Predator they like ambushing their prey. TEASE THEM ACT LIKE A "STIPPER OR IS IT STRIPER" I GET CONFUSED CAUSE 1 IS A FISH.
*5. They were truly unware/in tune with Rod Tip action & how much action gets transmitted through small tip movements
(Solution: When I brought the bait up and said look at the bait when you move they couldn't keep up with their bait nor did they know how to hold the rod for it to transmit the most sensitivity. Yes there is a way to hold a rod. )
*6. They were clueless of how far they were fishing down in regards to where their bait was when they picked up or reeled in their line.
(Solution: They didn't realize most rods are near or at 1 full turn of the handle being 2 foot. What to see & know the guys that know what they are doing? They know where that bait is in relation to where they are fishing AT ALL TIMES!. Question? Ever seen a kid or excited person catch a fish & they reel their line all the way to the top of the rod? Even seasoned people do it at times but for them it's a lapse at the moment. A good fisherman using a 13ft rod that is fishing 15ft down knows that 2 turns has them where all they have to do is lift the rod up because their line is less than the length of their rod out the water. Real Ole school fishermen won't even reel their line in when they catch a Crappie they pull the line with their hands so they go right back to the exact same depth that they caught the last fish)
*7. Sorry "Mr.Dan" has it right, "They weren't holding their lip right".
(Solution: I finally had that explained to me as a kid but never could get an answer ON THE WATER! I pleaded for an answer OFF THE WATER & got it. My Grandpa meant that when you are thinking Like the fish your lips are like you are cunning, tricking, & in control. When you were too anxious, not in tune, or green you facial expressions transmit how you are feeling & more than likely your LiveBait or Artificial fishing is going to be trash.) THINK LIKE THE FISH! If you saw a hamburger on the ground would you eat it? Nope. If you saw a hamburger right beside your bed that was hot sitting on the night stand as you woke smelling & looking good in your reach you more than likely would think your someone you love left it for ya.


Just saying.. There is a reason & if you have LiveScope there Needs to be NO REASON YOU AREN'T WEARING OUT CRAPPIE EXCEPT IF YOUR FISHERY ISN'T A GOOD CRAPPIE FISHERY. GO GETTUM DEADLY DAN!!!!!!! POSEIDON SPEED!!

[DeadlyDan]

Great writeup, Terry. I will re-read this more and plan to apply it on the water. The intricacies of crappie fishing draws me to it. If I ever become proficient with these rascals, I always remember the time and effort it took to learn. I like a challenge, so considering that, I’ll consider myself in Hog Heaven… LOL

This tip is one I will work on in a major way -
They were putting an action on the bait not attractive to the Crappie
(Solution: Too Much Bait Movement. You need to think of moving like a bait fish or bait. ) It’s not easy to do nothing.

[SLIP-CORK]

When I’m alone I just love to undress a lay down trying to create a pattern. I tight line mostly with my left hand holding the line. I do this because I can manipulate the jig various ways VERY SLOWLY! In thick cover I have to do this. Next: patience and quiet this goes without saying. Next: confidence in what’s on the end of the line. I go light (1/32 oz) with a slightly bigger hook on the jig. Next: pay attention to the angle of the dangle, depth, shade creation underwater (this helps me a great deal) and most of all see these conditions when you get a strike. That is the pattern for me so I give these situations a longer look.
Another thing that I do is to imagine where things are that I can’t see in a lay down. I normally approach from the top ends that I can’t normally see but I give this area a good look. I have no live scope so I am guessing at this point. I have guessed right many times as the Sacs love that type of structure at times. It looks like open water but I figure where the top ends are and start in. Another bonus is that the limb angles are generally toward me which reduces hangups.
It’s a labor of love and I’m as patient as they come. I just stick and move and try to build a pattern and repeat it. LOVE IT!!

[Grainraiser]

Livescope will quickly teach you how crappie react to baits from day to day. Sometimes they do not want any movement at all. Sometimes they only want it moving. It's pretty interesting to see them react to a bait in real time.

[GreenLine]

Some people have no patience grasshoppah


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[CrappieNight]

First off, screw the electronics. Second, for me at least, it’s all about the speed your jig falls. 1/32, 1/16,3/32, 1/8 is all I use. I like 2” plastics the most typically on a moon jig. But, I get my crappie on the drop just as I do most bass, etc. Keep your line tight obviously but do whatever you have to do to keep that line tight while it falls through the column. The way my hand trained itself I guess is I flick my handle (instead of constantly reeling) to turn about w full rotation every couple seconds that way I can feel more as I’m not doing two things at once. I love crappie fishing for the same reason you do, the challenge. I let them go 99% of the time even. But for me the most consistent way to catch ‘em is on the drop. If 1/8th ain’t working, try 3/32 and so on. I won’t use the electronics because that’s not fishing to me but to each their own. Probably easier to see your jig falling on the screen I’m assuming. But have your line tight the second it hits the water. That’s just my body of water anyways, im sure it varies big time from place to place. Most importantly, enjoy it! Good luck

[Rojo]

First off, screw the electronics. Second, for me at least, it’s all about the speed your jig falls. 1/32, 1/16,3/32, 1/8 is all I use. I like 2” plastics the most typically on a moon jig. But, I get my crappie on the drop just as I do most bass, etc. Keep your line tight obviously but do whatever you have to do to keep that line tight while it falls through the column. The way my hand trained itself I guess is I flick my handle (instead of constantly reeling) to turn about w full rotation every couple seconds that way I can feel more as I’m not doing two things at once. I love crappie fishing for the same reason you do, the challenge. Hell I let them go 99% of the time even. But for me the most consistent way to catch ‘em is on the drop. If 1/8th ain’t working, try 3/32 and so on. I won’t use the electronics because that’s not fishing to me but to each their own. Probably easier to see your jig falling on the screen I’m assuming. But have your line tight the second it hits the water. That’s just my body of water anyways, im sure it varies big time from place to place. Most importantly, enjoy it! Good luck

The daily desired sink rate is one of the dial-in's I do automatically, I'm glad you posted this because with your presentation on the fall the crappie's desired speed varies daily. Deep winter fishing I run a #4 BPS Clamshot above a 1/32 jighead with a 1.5in plastic because the bigger fish do not like the sink or Fall rate when the water is very cold. The Clamshot is needed to get the bait down to the 20ft level. I rig it 5-6ft above the jig so it has no effect of the jig's fall rate. This downsizing was pulled out of one of Ketchn's ramblings that I didn't do before that doubled my winter "Super-Sized" Slab catch rate. I had the presentation down but not the size & weight jig to use. As suggested above downsizing on finicky Slabs has continued to be Sage grade advice.

[Ketchn]

Not sure about other parts of the country, but in south Louisiana crappie, aka sac a lait, are consistently caught by only a select few. This seems to hold true through the years. I’m 71yo, but in my 20’s I saw the same thing.

example - 7 boats in a small dead end location canal and only one guy in a single boat is consistently catching fish. The successful angler is generous to share his knowledge, baits, and tactics. Still the others are not catching. That was ~50 years ago.

Yesterday - Fishing near an expert, both of us using livescope. He catches 54, I didn’t catch a single crappie. We spend some time fishing near one another, while he gives me pointers. In spite of his help. No fish.

If this was a rare situation, it would be understandable. But the expert consistently catches large number of fish while the great majority of other avid sac a lait fisherman catch hardly any. By the way, I had the expert on my boat last week and he setup my Garmin and caught 20 fish on a “bad” day.

I’ve spent a large portion of my 71 years catching a lot more than most, except crappie. What makes them so persnickety and elusive to most fishermen? My brother and I have targeted crappie for the last 18 months, fishing nearly once a week. We like the fact that they are a challenge, but never dreamed they would be this hard to catch.

Have others experienced this same phenomena?

Danny

it is such that many folks just don't get how crappie behave and sometimes can't break the same old patterns that do not produce fish .
been out with struggling crappie chasers a few times myself and emulating EXACTLY what the fella that is ketchn is doing is critical in some scenarios .
of course there are time anyone can ketch them ,but many times it is such that you need to certain things just so so or its a no go .
fish SLOWER , keep your bait above them AND for sure go tiny with the offering if they won't cooperate . AND >>>
sometimes they just do not want to be ketched as well ....just saying