• Never stop learning or wanting to learn - by Kdavid1

    I began my “crappier fishing” 13 years ago when I moved to Mississippi. Growing up from 12 years old through my early 20’s I pond fished every day for bream and bass. As I got older and had the means I branched out into fly-fishing and the occasional trip to a lake to fish in a boat. That type of fishing was all I knew so when I moved to Mississippi and was invited by a friend at work to go crappie fishing with him at Sardis — I went along. For those 12 years I thought the only way you crappie fished was getting out in the middle of the lake with bass rods and crappie jigs and drifting with the wind because that was the only way he fished for crappie and we did catch fish. Now I never caught as many as he did but I became a crappie fisherman then.



    When I got my boat last year and started going on my own fishing the same way I immediately started catching twice as many fish as I ever did with my buddy and that is where I started to learn. I wound up on Crappie.com and started doing research and asking questions. The more I learned from this the more I wanted to learn and understand. This led me into what technique I wanted to use which inevitably brought me to spider rigging. Keep in mind the only way I had crappie fished before was drifting and at the beginning had zero reference to use between the two techniques.



    My first way to learn was observation followed by questions about what I had observed. Then I tried it out with someone. Once I let that information soak in and understood the basics of the technique I had a reference I could use from drifting to spider rigging which then led to the questions and learning the specifics in detail about spider rigging which lead to the purchase of the proper equipment to set up a boat and fully begin using this technique (much to the chagrin of my wife) Again working to fully understand what was going on while using this technique and newly acquired gear led to further questions and learning. Once those items were understood the questions and learning still keep coming but as things progress the catching gets better and better and the fishing more fun. As most know and would agree you never stop learning and should never stop wanting to learn.

    Comments 53 Comments
    1. Lotech Joe's Avatar
      Lotech Joe -
      Good read. I'm still waiting for my learning curve to flatten a little. I don't ever want it to go away, just flatten somewhat. In my state, (Washington) you can only fish with one rod unless you buy a multiple rod license. Then you can only fish with two. For now, I'm going to stick with one rod because I like to feel the nibble and hook set.
    1. Idunno's Avatar
      Idunno -
      I started about a year ago and have learned gobs about crappie from the people on this site since then. Just last night, I was trying to figure how far I have come. I started wondering, 25% of the way?

      That was silly thinking. I have a l-o-n-g way to go.
    1. retiredcop48's Avatar
      retiredcop48 -
      I can relate to this article. I'm 64 years old and have been fishing most of my life. I retired 6 years ago and started to read more about crappie fishing and fishing more. The more I read the more I learned about crappie fishing, and realized I was not a crappie fisherman. Like you over the past few years I have watched the number and size of the crappie I catch really increase. I thought that a 9 to 10 inch crappie was a good fish. Now a good fish is between 12 to 15 inches. So keep the articles coming I still have a lot more to learn.


      Thanks Larry (retiredcop48)
    1. Billbob's Avatar
      Billbob -
      good read
    1. Bamadadx3's Avatar
      Bamadadx3 -
      Thank You so much for the article and the Glimmer of Hope I have! I started out with a zebco 33 and worms, crickets or what I could find or dig up to fish with. I have always wanted a boat and finally at 45 was able to afford and old 14 ft vhull with a motor as old as i am. I am learning more and more but have yet to have what I see some of you PRO's pull in on and outing. My record stands currently at 2 crappie on a trip. But there is always tomorrow! Again thanks for the glimmer of hope!
    1. fliesforall's Avatar
      fliesforall -
      I like you have been fishing all my life and only recently have started targeting crappie other than the occasional spring spawn bite and it has been lots of fun getting to learn new stuff and accumulate new equipment.
    1. royinlox's Avatar
      royinlox -
      My learning is going to be this season at lake okeechobee fl i will try for the first time trolling. I have always used one pole in the bull-rushes and pads but now have my boat set up with pole holders from lake talquin fl
    1. wademaster's Avatar
      wademaster -
      You never know it all. I try to read and learn everything I can everyday. This way I can help others too when their learning.
    1. Luvfatslabs's Avatar
      Luvfatslabs -
      I can truly say that my ability to catch crappie has increased 100% since joining crappie.com
    1. Mikie's Avatar
      Mikie -
      I am trying to learn but still catch most fish by accident, which means the fish was in the wrong place at the right time for me.
    1. KDAVID1's Avatar
      KDAVID1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by Luvfatslabs View Post
      I can truly say that my ability to catch crappie has increased 100% since joining crappie.com
      x1000
    1. KDAVID1's Avatar
      KDAVID1 -
      Quote Originally Posted by Bamadadx3 View Post
      Thank You so much for the article and the Glimmer of Hope I have! I started out with a zebco 33 and worms, crickets or what I could find or dig up to fish with. I have always wanted a boat and finally at 45 was able to afford and old 14 ft vhull with a motor as old as i am. I am learning more and more but have yet to have what I see some of you PRO's pull in on and outing. My record stands currently at 2 crappie on a trip. But there is always tomorrow! Again thanks for the glimmer of hope!
      I am far from being a Pro and even further from knowing what I am doing but keep pushing along. I am glad I have given you a glimmer of hope
    1. kycreek's Avatar
      kycreek -
      Good read & pics.
    1. revitup's Avatar
      revitup -
      i enjoyed the article--never have spider rigged. Always enjoy that thump with tightlining a jig.
    1. jig rig's Avatar
      jig rig -
      Great post. Have you tried tight line with one jig? slip cork? or swimming a jig? Swimming a jig is my favorite.

      Tight lines
      Jig Rig
    1. Cray's Avatar
      Cray -
      Way to go Kdavid1. Really good article.
    1. RetiredRR's Avatar
      RetiredRR -
      Very informative article. I'm a single poler unless I'm driftin', then I'll try two poles. Have tried draggin' small cranks and even
      caught crappie. Recently caught a crappie on a chatter-bait, and was surprised. Jiggin' with a crappie jig and pullin' a chatter-bait
      can produce when you least expect it.
    1. feeshrman's Avatar
      feeshrman -
      nice article, and very accurate, a good feeshrman never stops learning.
    1. Big H trucking's Avatar
      Big H trucking -
      He left out the part i thought him everything i know....:D:D:D:D
    1. rducks123's Avatar
      rducks123 -
      Good read KDavid1.
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