Crappie Inovations

Crappie innovations have grown about as fast as technology. Not only has electronics made it easier to catch crappie, but rods, reels, line, and lures have made leaps and bounds over what used to be a simple cane pole, cork, hook, and minnow setup. Now there are a million jig styles, sizes and types. There are many colors and variations of those colors as you could shake an Ugly Stick at. Not only do you have more jig styles than you could ever fish with, but there are countless other ways to catch crappie: pulling crank baits, casting spinners, shooting docks, spider rigging, and more.
Perhaps the most impactful innovative initiative is electronics. Although the advance wasn't necessarily designed for crappie fishing, it certainly has been beneficial for crappie fishers. There is side imaging, down imaging, 3d type depth/fish finders that show precise views of structure and fish. It is to the point that you can identify whatever fish you are targeting. Locating fish is the single most important thing you can do. No matter how great a lure or bait may work, if you aren't where the fish are located, it will not do you any good. Not only has electronics made it easier to locate fish, but the gear to catch them has gotten better.
Today there are special rods for whatever type of crappie fishing you are doing. There are trolling rods for spider rigging. Rod lengths vary depending on the situation. Rods can be as short as 5 or 6 feet, or extremely long (up to 16 feet). There are rods designed for tight-lining, dock shooting, and casting. Rod choices are varied from soft tips to heavy trolling. There are cut-aways in the handles for more sensitivity.
Lines have come a long way as well. First, there was line made of silk, and catgut; then dacron and monofilament. Then, it advanced to fluorocarbon and braid. Perhaps braid has been one of the best innovations. The diameter and sensitivity of braid has changed modern day fishing. Bites that may have gone undetected can be felt by modern-day braided line. The thin diameter means you can use smaller reels with more line capacity.
Then there are attractants, nuggets, sprays, dips, dyes, and the list goes on. In the world of crappie fishing, there will always be the next great innovation to catch more fish. It may be advances in electronics, jig designs, specialty rods and reels, new lines, and who knows what. With all the innovations and progress, the one factor that will always land you more fish is time spent on the water. Time spent fishing is the best way to invent, create, or imagine the next great innovation in the world of crappie fishing Good luck fishing. Hope to see ya on the water.
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Thanks for a great article. There's so much stuff available it's mind boggling sometimes. Just remember, you don't need to have it all, bobber and minnow still works too. But the new stuff can be fun as well.

the one factor that will always land you more fish is time spent on the water. - No truer statement could be made. If you don't go, you want know.

I agree 100% but it chaps me when I see them and cant catch them that's why I don't use deer cameras they make me mad at what I don't see when you are on it helps tremendously to change depth when you see them 3 ft above where your jig is helps on not loosing as many jigs when you can position 1 ft above cover