Crappie Fishing Doesn't Have To End In The Spring

Crappie Fishing Doesn’t Have To End In The Spring

By Robert Loewendick

"Got him"! I said to my fishing partner.

I was slowly retrieving my chartreuse spinnerbait when the fish hit the bait. I was expecting to see a largemouth bass on the end of the line as I pulled the fighter to shore.

To my surprise, what was on my line was a species of fish that I hadn’t battled since spring. Not only was the species a surprise, but the size was impressive as well.

A crappie weighing slightly over two pounds and measuring 16 1/2 inches long had taken the bait. What was more surprising to me than the species and size, was the season -- late summer.

For most anglers who fish the Ohio Valley, the preferred season to target the crappie is spring. That was my mindset as well, until I lucked into the crappie described earlier.

I would catch a few crappies in the summer, but not many in numbers and size. The crappie behaves just like most panfish during the hot temperatures of summer -- they go to cooler, deeper water.

Different from spring action, the crappie desires open water with deep structure nearby instead of structure filled locations, such as stumps and sunken treetops along the shore. The crappie is a schooling fish, which means if you find one, you will find many.

WHERE DID THEY GO?

Different types of water bodies do require a little different approach. In open water bodies, such as rivers and reservoirs, crappies congregate in or near channels. The moving water will attract some types of baitfish that the crappie will follow for easy feeding opportunities.

In lakes and ponds that maintain a constant water level, crappie will gather around structure that is located next to deep water. Dropoffs that lead to deep water that has structure near its edge is a prime target area.

The most productive and easy-to-locate structures that have offered me success are bridge pilings or piers. I’ve seen many boats stop and the fisherman within commenced casting toward the shore and the piling or supports closest to shore.

If the fisherman was hunting for a crappie then he should have turned around and fished the center supports. Normally the deeper water is under the center of a bridge; baitfish may be suspended there or a school of them may be traveling through.

Crappie will hang out around these bridge supports feeding on the passing baitfish.

Finding the actual depth of the crappie’s location is an element of the summertime challenge. Once the depth is determined, don’t change your fishing depth until the crappie changes his.

The best way to determine the proper depth for bait presentation (if a depth sonar is not available) is to probe the water at different depths and use different types of baits by using multiple poles.

Check your state’s fishing regulations for the number of poles permitted for use at the same time. Using a live minnow during the summer months to locate the correct depth of crappies will give the quickest answer.

BAIT SELECTION

Summertime baits for crappie don’t differ much from the spring season. If I had to choose only one bait I would have to go with the live minnow -- it’s hard to beat nature.

If a minnow is presented to a finicky eating crappie, the chances are better for a bite than you would get with an artificial lure.

Using a live minnow to locate the summer school of crappies is essential, but it’s even more essential to continue using the same lure that you use to locate the fish until the bites stop -- either live or artificial.

If your fishing artificial baits and the action ceases, try switching to live minnows. The natural behavior of the minnow just may entice the crappie to begin feeding once again.

If you must use artificial lures for the satisfaction of a true fishing challenge, then there are a few things to consider.

The three primary colors of crappie-catching, plastic grubs are: white, chartreuse and red. Be sure to use matching, colored jig heads to complete the productive presentation.

Work the jig in a very slow retrieve or jigging action. Referring back to the bridge supports, fish the shaded side of the pilings. Baitfish travels the cooler water channels and if some type of structure provides shade then the baitfish will likely take that path and the crappie should follow.

These tips are the norm for summertime slabs, but there are always exceptions to every rule. The harvested crappie that I described in the beginning of this article is an example.

I was fishing a private lake that had produced many quality fish. The month was August and the air temperature was in the 90s. I was fishing a large spinnerbait from the shore with a steady retrieve when the crappie hit the lure.

Go figure.

Whatever specie you enjoy fishing for and by whatever technique you use, don’t let the hot weather keep you away from the fishing waters.

For crappie fishermen, don’t limit your crappie fillets to spring. The crappie is available any time of the year; you just have to adjust to the season as the crappies do.