Catching Early Spring Crappie From The Bank
Searching for larger females in deep water isn’t just for those with boats. If you’re a shore angler the slip bobber is a great way to probe the deeper water near shore. I could write an entire article on slip bobber types and techniques, but for this application just rig up your favorite slip bobber and search the different depths until you locate the depth that’s holding bigger females. By using a couple of rods you can incrementally adjust the depths of each one to search. While jigs will work for this slip bobber technique most anglers prefer minnows. It helps to study a lake map to find deep water near spawning areas.
It’s important to set up on the shore where a creek or river channel swings in next to a spawning cove. This gives you plenty of deep staging water to fish within casting distance. I hear so many anglers complaining about the long winter and how long it will be before they can go fishing but remember that the photoperiod really sets the spawn into motion and the crappie will begin to feed a lot earlier than you might think, even in cold water.
Crappie fishing can be great during both pre-spawn and post-spawn periods. During a gradual spawn the bite will be spread out over time you just have to find the fish that are biting. By learning to read the signals of the winter to spring transition you can enjoy more fishing time this spring and more fillets in the freezer this winter. Break out the windbreaker and stocking cap and get out there and shake those cabin fever blues with a day on the water catching our favorite panfish this spring and extend your spring crappie season.
3 Tips to Locate and Catch Early Season Crappie
Check shallow cover first
Fish out toward the main lake following likely migration routes, like creek channels, until you find the crappie
Spider-rigging will be your most efficient way to find and catch early crappie by allowing you to fish slowly and methodically
Watch for baitfish on your fish finder, the crappie should be nearby
SMALLER MALE CRAPPIE MOVE UP FIRST
The males are the first to move into shallow cover to build the beds that attract the female crappie. This activity is triggered by the photoperiod and can begin to happen earlier than you might expect. While there is definitely a peak spawning time when you catch crappie one after another there is also a lead and a lag when the fishing is a little slower but can easily fill a limit if you know where to look. There are little things that will let you know where the big crappie are and with a little practice you can target those bigger fish while others are catching countless little ones up shallow and here is how to do it.
The extended length of daylight, or photoperiod, triggers the instinct in crappie to spawn. The spawn is going to happen regardless of the water temperature, at least to some extent, so getting out there searching for these activities is key to extending your season. The initial indication that the spawn is near is a wave of males moving into the classic cover in the shallows. Trees, brush, rip rap, stake beds all attract spawners. Paying attention to what is going on is key to locating those elusive slabs this spring.
If you start in the shallows and are catching smaller fish this tells you that the males are up, but the females are still hanging back in deeper water. The females won’t be far from this spawning activity so look for deeper water nearby. You can locate crappie with your fish finder or just fish the deeper areas. These fish are hungry and will bite a jig or minnow dangled at their depth.
INITIAL APPROACH TO EARLY CRAPPIE
My initial approach to early spring crappie fishing is to check shallow cover for spawning crappie. I usually do this even when I’m sure they’re not up shallow yet. It’s habit because that’s where we always looked when I was a kid. We never fished deep for crappie but crappie fishing has come a long way since then and serious crappie anglers know that the deeper water holds the slabs when the water temperature is cold. Some anglers never fish shallow claiming that the big females are only shallow long enough to lay their eggs, then move back to deeper water and knowing this along with a few other tips and techniques will help you load the cooler with more slabs all year long.
