big crappie techniques?

[dwaw]

do you think that some techniques catch bigger fish? if so, how do you target bigger fish?

[Danny W]

I don't know about techniques but I've always heard bigger bait bigger fish. Usually if theres big crappie in a hole if they're gonna hit they're the first do so many times. Sometimes the little ones get to it first and catching them will spook the big fish off.

[river scum]

jigs deep in the wood or large live baits like shad or bass shiners. most important, keep moving till you find the big ones.

[chaunc]

I use the bigger swimbaits to catch the big crappies in the pack. Google Big Joshy swimbaits. They work very well.

[wademaster]

My 2 biggest crappie have been caught on bass sized crankbaits if that tells you anything...but the law of averages has to prevail too....just keep catching em and you'll eventually get a nice one...

[feelay]

I like to use a big honkin minnow!

[bfish]

crankbaits

[dwaw]

sounds like big. for those using crankbaits, are you adding weight to the line?

[CrappiePappy]

Personally, I don't think it's so much "technique", or even size of bait that will determine whether or not you catch "bigger fish". It's more of what lake you're fishing, and when. At least, in my case it's been that way. All of the 2.5lb-2.75lb Crappie, that I've caught, have come on 1.5"-2" artificial baits or med size minnows. Casting was the technique used with the artificial baits, while long pole/slip float "dipping" was used with the minnows. Spring/Fall were the seasons (when), while Watts Bar Reservoir & Barkley Lake were the "where".

Granted, I haven't fished that often in the last 20yrs, nor have I fished that many lakes notorious for big Crappie (in numbers). Which, I think, goes to say that the when & where are more important than the "what". The technique used seems to be more a factor when you're aware of the depth & location of the fish ... and not some magic way to only catch big ones.

... cp

[wademaster]

sounds like big. for those using crankbaits, are you adding weight to the line?

I don't add weight to mine.....