My gear and techniques

Hello everyone. I am new to the forum and this is my first new topic. I am mainly a bass angler but I want to try out some crappie fishing before bass season opens. I was planning on using my light spinning bass gear for them crappies this weekend, and wanted to check with some experts here for any pointers. I am planning on using my 6'6" ml st croix premier and pflueger president 6920 with 6lb fluoro (my bass dropshot setup) for casting 1/8 and 1/16 oz roadrunners and jigs. I want to use my other finesse bass setup which is a 6' med cabelas tourney trail, pflueger president 6930 for a slip float rig with live minnows (no line spooled up yet, so I could use some suggestions there). Would these be a good place to start? Also, the ice is just starting to melt here in Michigan, and I'll most likely just be casting from shore by the mouth of a river feeding an inland lake (Huron River and Ford lake to be exact). Do crappie like to hang out in or near current? What types of books should I be using for my minnows? I think I have some tru turn bait holder and panfish #6 hooks which is what I was leaning towards. Should I try any of my ice lures since the water is so cold (jigs, small rapalas, Swedish pimples, small cleos)? Like I said I'm very new to the crappie game. I did catch 1 through the ice on a minnow and slip float this winter, but I want to try casting for them before bass season opens. Thanks!

Probably can get some info from the guys over on the Michigan board.

Your outfits sound like they would work just fine. Spool that second outfit with the same line. Only help I can give you is from videos I have seen of fishing up there. Recently watched one where they were fishing really small jigs with plastics under a float. They were fishing weed beds just after ice out and some spots still had ice. Look more for still water. I have never done much good in current unless you could find some good eddys. Try tipping with wax worms. Your black crappie are more insect or tiny minnow feeders so wherever emergent bugs might be is where I would start. And fish slow. Good luck and like G said the Michigan board would be best place to ask questions related to where you fish.

Thanks! I just reposted in the Michigan board.

I have a question on Electronics. I purchased a Garmin Echo 150 portable depth finder because I don't own a boat I'll rent a boat on spring and fall breaks. It has a mono chrome screen and I have used the mode where it gives you the fish symbols and I tried using the mode where it will show the arches. The other day I saw a mass on the screen and it looked somewhat like a ball aboyt 20 feet down in 50 feet of water. Was that what they refer to as a bait ball? Also should the bigger fish show as arches?

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Originally Posted by tmosley38

I have a question on Electronics. I purchased a Garmin Echo 150 portable depth finder because I don't own a boat I'll rent a boat on spring and fall breaks. It has a mono chrome screen and I have used the mode where it gives you the fish symbols and I tried using the mode where it will show the arches. The other day I saw a mass on the screen and it looked somewhat like a ball aboyt 20 feet down in 50 feet of water. Was that what they refer to as a bait ball? Also should the bigger fish show as arches?

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That ball was probably a bait ball and what makes the arch is when the fish move through the sonar beam or when you move over the fish. Thats about all I know but if you post your question on the sonar electronics forum the more knowledgeable sonar people can tell you more.:twocents

Hi Suburbbass-

Your rigs are fine. I would add some 1/32 oz jigs and a selection of 1" tubes and curlytails. You can always add a splitshot or two 3-4" above the jig if you need more weight to balance things. I like to use orange, red or chartreuse jig heads. Chartreuse metalflake is my go to in stained water followed closely by white, black and natural colors in clear water. In cold water I find smaller baits on a slower fall often do best. I've also found attractants to be most effective in colder water. I'm using a Pro Cure product at present and it seems to be effective, but I haven't used it enough yet to form a solid opinion on it.

I highly recommend the 1" Berkley Gulp Alive minnows. I've seen them outfish live minnows time and again. In fact, I've had great success with all of the smaller Gulp Alive panfish baits, minnows, leeches, fry, etc., sold in the small jars.


I'm in NW Indiana and have fished some in Michigan, so I'm somewhat familiar with your conditions. If you can fish open water with ice nearby, try casting your bait on the ice, dragging it to the edge and letting it drop. I catch a lot of crappie at ice out time that are hanging under the edge of the ice.

Crappie don't really like current. They'll hang in sheltered spots near current though, and if you can drift or drag your bait past them they may come out and ambush it.

I think crappie coming out of cold water in the spring are the beast tasting. They also freeze better, I think. Good Luck.