As I am sitting here writing this column, I am constantly being reminded of the massive amounts of hatching going on by the swarming bugs on my computer screen. The May fie hatch is in full force on Gull Lake signaling the end of spring fishing. Although there is still good fishing to be had, it is usually down hill from here.
For the next couple of weeks crappie will be my fish of choice. Traditionally their, “paper mouths” present a challenge and they make excellent table fair. While walleye fishing the other day I noticed a school of them swarming the surface of the glass-like water. I should have switched tactics and presented the fish with a jig. Flexibility is key in any fishing but I wanted attempt to fool one more walleye.
Some people fish for Crappies using a minnow and a plain hook, often times coupled with a slip bobber. Using bettle spins by trolling or slow retrieving through schools is another effective method. Personally, I use jigs or jig heads tipped with minnows. I have found that a 1/16-ounce jig tipped with a fathead minnow works the best. The largest jig size I would use for Crappie is 1/8-ounce. As a rule, I usually say the smaller the better, this allows for a slower presentation. Some fishermen swear by tube jigs, twister tails and flu flu’s. All these are added attractants that I find myself using when I run out of bait.
Crappies are a suspended fish by nature, hanging on the edge of weed lines off the bottom. Crappie strike upward, like the majority of fish. This makes it crucial for fishermen to present their bait or jig above the fish. If you are fishing below them, or at their level, you might as well be sitting at home (okay, so it's still better than being at home).
I have found that Crappie hit slower presentations the most, often times on the drop of the cast. The best way I have found to place the jig at the right depth and speed is using a slip-bobber. If I find a school of Crappie suspended five feet from the surface of the water, I set my slipknot at four feet. With a 1/16-ounce jig head tipped with a minnow, I will cast ten to fifteen yards. Once the slipknot has reached the bobber I slowly reel the set-up in.
Not only does the slip bobber allow the less experienced fishermen to place the jig at the proper depth and speed, it also helps with the hook set. When jigging without the bobber I find the majority of fishermen pull the jig out of the fish’s mouth, or set it after the fish has spit it out. The bobber seems to allow the perfect delay for an accurate hook set. Of course, using the proper equipment helps as well. Ultra light rods and reels are essential to feeling the hollow strikes while panfishing.
Mastering the technique is unfortunately easier then finding the fish. It is important to first scout out beaver dams, sunken islands and channel openings when searching for schools of crappie. Look for them to be in roughly ten feet of water suspended five to six feet from the bottom.
In my youth, my cousin would always bring along a few Daddy-longlegs spiders when we went panfishing. When we got to suspected areas he would toss them on the calm water. They would run for shore and we would locate schools while fish attack the spiders on the surface. Remember, you cannot catch fish from the cabin and best of luck on the water.
