Flyfishing for Crappie

I did considerably more largemouth fishing last year, while developing a new fly. But Crappie still remains as my overall favorite, as well as the tackle and flies you can tie or
buy for this minnow master. There are many flies on the market for Crappie or flies that will catch Crappie, such as the Clouser Minnow, which is retrieved horizontally with periodic quick tugs. But I still prefer to use Southern Pro grubs or soft plastics for that matter. Crappie fishing is usually done with light to ultra-light rods and 4 to 8 pound line, depending on open water or heavier cover. Flyfishing has the same principle, as your not going to fish for Crappie with a 10 weight rod and 20lb tippet. A 5 to 8 weight rod and about 7 pound tippet is ideal for Crappie fishing with the flyrod. Grubs can be retrieved horizontally about 3 to 6 feet down, twitched on a dead-fall, or suspended on a strike-indicator. I often use plastic beads to add weight, which slows the descent compared to metallic split shots. The advantage to this system, is that you can change plastics, patterns, or colors, without changing the fly or tying new knots. A system that has been effective and should provide for good future Crappie fishing.

Just wondering, doesn't the plastic come off after casting?

Thanks for the picture. I'll bet that was a lot of fun catching that crappie on a fly rod! Thanks for the information on the rod weights for crappie too!

I use a size 4 bait hook, that has two barbs on the shank of the hook. Hooks are one of my weaknesses, so many! It stays on pretty good during false casting, but does slide down periodically. The tubes slide down all time, so I just use swig tail grubs or slug patterns!

I did some crappie fishing with the fly rod last year! Best lures were weighted #8 wooly buggers by far.

This is just a little guy, but was a good example of how hard the post-spawn fish were smacking the bugger.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps0efd16d4.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps735a76b0.jpg

I caught some off wooly buggers a few years back, that beadhead also makes it look like a baitfish!

Put a drop of superglue on the hook shank to hold the plastic grubs in place on your hook, it won't come off in casting.

Stump swoops in with the save!!! I was gonna say the same thing. Fish On!!!

I fish Lake Thunderbird in Norman, OK and usually wade fish the spawn in coves. I was thinking I would use my 2WT fly rod that I built a few years ago for crappie this year. I would probably have to use really light weight jigs. Do you'all think that would work?

Ed

A 2 wt rod would be a blast to use. I have used my 3 wt with weighted size 12 minnows and nymphs. Never hooked up with a big crappie but did catch some under a pound. A lot of fun and I need to pull my fly rod out and go.

The lighter the better I hear. A club member loves using his 4 weight on just about anything. I like my 10ft 7 weight, perfect!

I went out with my 2wt yday, using tubes on a 1/24oz jig head and caught about a dozen. Next time I will use a hook with beads as mytyburski suggested,should be easier to cast. Caught a couple good ones bent that 2wt almost double!

A bait hook with two barbs on the shank, usually hold them in place really well!