Newbie needs Fall Crappie fishing tips!

Hey guys! i am new to this site and new to crappie fishing for the most part! i catfish most of the summer, and do well at that but i know very little about crappie fishing other then finding them on log lay downs in the spring.

I am going to start hitting the crappies hard starting this week.

I am just asking for some tips for this fall to better my chances and getting into a couple schools of crappie's.

I own a 14 ft alumacraft boat with a 30 hp motor. not the best "crappie boat" but i am sure it will get the job done.

right now i got 2 rigs i tied up that i think will work. 1. a slip bobber with a 1/8 ounce jig with a small tube tied on. Also has a bare hook tied 18 inches above that i will put minnow on incase they want minnow instead of jig. 2. is the same without the slip bobber.

would you also put a minnow on the jig? or is that 2 beefy of a presentation?

thinking of trying around the docks in the marina this thursday. is it to early for that?


any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Docks are hot in the fall. I've already been catching them. I've just been using a jig and shooting the docks.

OK, I'm a newbie too but the above post speaks volumes. Crappie love structure. Crappie do not like bright sunlit water. They hover over brushpiles and under docks spring and summer. When the water gets too warm or too sunny they find deeper cover. It's not unusual to find them in 30 feet of water over, you guessed it brushpiles. I'd like to hear an old hand elaborate, as my knowledge is somewhat rudimentary. How about it guys, any slabmasters wanna share?
Yakety-yak

I have been catching Crappie in shallow water, 4 to 6' in the mornings around grass banks, drop offs, shallow structure or dams, as soon as the sun comes up, they leave for deeper water. They are usually in deeper water 10/12' close to cover. they are gathering into larger schools now. The bite is slow till late afternoon for me. I use tube jigs with nibbles. My favorite method 1s a slip cork above jig. Casting away from boat. You have to decide the retrieval method by trial. I let sit for 10seconds and then lightly pop back in. Sometimes a slow retrieve is the answer.

P.S- Your 14ft boat is fine, the Crappie do not care, enjoy the journey.

Checkout the "Best advice" columns that were posted on the main page. Some very good information for anyone starting out with Crappie fishing!!!

There you go Slab.... see what I did there!!!:biggrin

Start on the brush/trees just outside the coves. Move to the first tree in the cove. Right about now that is where they are in central IL.

what do you mean by cove?

I see alot of people in here talking about lakes...

i personally fish the mississippi river beings its 5 mins from my house

Let's see if I can define it in a way you will understand, without graphics.

Cove- A cove is the body of water located between two fingers that extend into the body of water (lake or river). Some coves have a creek/stream/river that feed water to the lake/river.

For more information I highly recommend an Orientation Course with map and land navigation, including the use of a compass. What you see above water is also below water. Understanding natural structure will put you on more fish. Fish relate to structure as they move around the body of water they live in. Fish have highways and follow them, knowing how to read a map will help you find those highways and greatly increase your fishing success from season to season.

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Originally Posted by KurtManning6

what do you mean by cove?

I see alot of people in here talking about lakes...

i personally fish the mississippi river beings its 5 mins from my house

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If you will be crappie fishing in the river, I assume you will need to look for spots where the crappies can ambush baitfish and yet the crappies will try to avoid the current. In other words, on the downstream side of jetties, laydown trees, docks, rocks, etc. Slow current areas like oxbows maybe? There are some guys here who fish in rivers and they will help you

I havent had much luck in rivers .....yet, but vic has good points. My best luck is always in areas with little to no current. Creek mouths and a ways up creeks are good places too.

Crappie bite where you find them. Obviously ya gotta find them before you can catch them. The smaller the water, usually the easier it is - but sonar is an absolute must when you have no idea what's on bottom or how deep.
Want crappie or any other pan fish? Fish a lake.

My friend and I have been fishing a decent size lake recently for the first time and after three trips are still learning key structure areas and depths. (By structure I mean for example humps out from shore; points that extend way out that may even be perpendicular to a straight shore line; narrowed areas where the two shores are closer than any other and have some depth (over 4') and hopefully weeds ; weed bed edges - especially those away from shore; coves - rounded indentations or corners in a lake that adjacent to deeper water and weeds; steep shore lines or flats that drop off fast to a flat shelf).

Crappie in one lake can be found over or in many structure types (see above) on the same day. Granted, 3 or more fish may be in one area, but schools are common numbering over 15 or more catchable fish. Catch one and the schoolies turn on like a conveyor belt.

As far as lures go, can't beat a jig and soft plastic for the search, find and catch. Depending on the size of the water and the largest average size the crappies run, 1/16 and 1/8 oz ball head jigs (unpainted) suffice for all depths and speeds of retrieve - usually a slooow and uneven retrieve. We used jigs under floats this weekend and caught many crappie near shore and deeper for an hour.

Vertical jigging in 8' or more is a nice way to get bit when the fish are cooperative.

Minnow imitations with flat (not curl) tail seem to do well regardless of presentation.

We fished from a small boat using only a trolling motor and did quite well - even when the wind picked up. The important thing to remember is that the lure is the search tool along with sonar and once fish are found (regardless of mixed species), anchor and cast all around the boat to find the school if it exists. I may occupy a rectangle only 10-20 yd. wide or you may be near the middle of one in a cove (happened to me today - I caught fish shallow and in open water that was deeper.)

Always be aware of any surface activity - splashes or and surface disruption - an always cast to it.

Line size - stay with 6 or less pound test leader or main line. Fish are not line shy, but ignore a lure that doesn't act right on heavier line. You may get a away with 8#, but be safe and go lighter.

A bit much to absorb, but the above applies to most freshwater species of fish caught. In fact if I caught crappie in an area, there would also be a high probability of catching sunnies, yellow perch, bass and pickerel - and on same lure.

Know the bottom! I can't emphasize that enough. But also remember it for future reference.

I don't know much about the mighty Mississippi but I would tend to think some of the comments here are good ones . low current areas for sure . and not knowing the average depth there I am not sure about what presentation to use . i imagine the water is somewhat turbid so scent will help in the way of a minnow or crappie nibble on the jig . high visibility baits with lots of noise and flash like a road runner with a GoGo minnow on it and fan cast areas you think they may be holding in ? docks are a for sure as well and pitch a light jig with a large body to create a slow fall under the dock in the shade areas . keep it slow ! most crappie like slow bait ....hope you hammer em

Don't rule out Crappie in Rivers, especially bigger rivers.
Picture of a Crappie my wife caught in the Illinois River.

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