I am a bluegill fisherman and I hear there are plenty of crappie around here (Beaufort County, NC) and I need help getting started. I want to use natural bait, as i have fished lots with beetle spins and hardly ever catch crappie. What is the best live bait, and what to look for as opposed to what I normally look for to fing bluegills (shallows, cover, edges of creek etc.)? thanks for any help, Creekman
Best live bait for crappie - minnows.
Also, check the NC board and see how they are catching them. Right now, the crappie will be deep, or at least suspended over deep water. They can be tough to find at this time of the year. Also check out the article written by Rango from the SC board http://www.crappie.com/rango/index.htm . Nightstalking may be the most promising option for you right now.
I grew up crappie fishing October - May, and then bream fished through the summer until cooler weater got around. If you are dedicated to finding crappie during the summer, stick with it. It will pay off sooner or later.