Crappie from shore?

[Dave Bailey]

I have a confession: I've never caught a crappie. At my age you would expect incidental catches along with all the other stuff, but nothing.

Looking to break that unenviable status this spring, so any suggestions would be appreciated. Not necessarily looking for any honey holes, just general areas, terminal tackle tips, etc.

I'm in Pickering, willing and able to travel, preferably north or northeast.

Thanks!

[Eli]

In a few weeks they'll start staging for their spawn. Fish a shallow shoreline with moderate weeds/sunken timber. Odds go way if you can pick the shores that get the most sun through the day. They don't tend to be too picky in the spring. 2" tubes and swimbaits do the trick for me.

[MuskieBait]

Eli's bang on with technique.

I would also add slip float rig to the repertoire. You can fish tubes or swimbait as Eli mentioned, or simple splitshot and minnow, or small jig and minnow. With the float, you are able to fish slower around structures if fish are less active. You are also able to search each depth zone systematically until you find the depth they are holding. They are often suspended over weed tops or around a structure. They usually feed upward, so too deep and you may not get any hits.

Another favourite of mine are the good ole Beetle Spin. The little spinning blade attracts their attention, the jig/grub combo is the small morsel that they will hit.

Lots of lakes within 1h drive from Pickering should have crappies. Even that big bay in town should have crappie...but the water is often quite murky there so it is more difficult to find them with reduced visibility.

[jaddlol]

thanks for the great info!

[Dave Bailey]

Thanks gents, I will try that!