Fall Crappie Catching by Brad Wiegmann

You fishing or catching? In the fall crappie fishing can be just that fishing not catching, however, the last part of September often turns into catching as temperatures drop. Alabama crappie fishing guide Lee Pitts over the years has experienced fall fishing at its best and looks forward to it.


“In the fall the crappie start realizing short days and cooler temperatures are signaling it’s time to start feeding again after a long hot summer,” Pitts continued, “When I’m guiding on Weiss Lake, Neal Henry and Logan Martin you are dealing with lake draw downs and current in these reservoirs which makes the crappie move to certain areas till the water really cools down and shad make a move shallow.”


Pitts will fish brush piles near the river channel focusing on the hundreds of manmade brush piles and locations where underwater stumps are located. He noted that presentation and location was the key to going home with a limit of crappie or a handful.


“I have two ways to catch them. One is to use a drop shot rig with a live minnow,” Pitts continued, “It’s a pre-rigged rig with a size 2 or 4 gold Aberdeen hook and I use a ¾- or 1-ounce weight. It’s pretty simple, but extremely effective for fishing near the stumps or brush piles.”


He uses the heavier weight to keep the fishing line straight up and down. No line swing since that will make it harder to see the bite. “You need the heavy weight in the current and boat movement to maintain control. Generally, I’m fishing in 12- to 24-feet of water. If your line gets to swinging than you are going to get hung up or not see the bite,” said Pitts.


The client will sit upfront and fish sitting down while watching one or two rods. Pitts prefers to have the client hold on to one pole because the bite can be so light it’s possible to miss it. The other rod is in a stationary rod holder. One other thing is currently Pitts doesn’t have live imaging sonar on his crappie guiding boat. He believes that clients would miss a bite if not paying attention and watching the rod tip for the slightest bite. “If I had livescope the client might not even be looking at their rod and miss a subtle bite,” said Pitts.




Besides live bait Pitts uses Bobby Garland Lures Mo’ Glo Baby Shad, Minnow Mind’R or Slab Slay’R rigged on a 1/8-ounce Home Crappie Pro Mo’ Glo jighead. The combination of the two makes for perfect hatch size fall bait. As for color patterns Pitts like bluegrass, Cajun Cricket or monkey milk in clearer water conditions. One other lure he is looking forward to fishing the new Bobby Garland Mayfly noting it will be a great crappie bait when they go to hatching.


Pitts ended with these words of knowledge. “Don’t let your lures or minnow swing behind at an angler. Keep it straight up and down; if you are catching catfish you are fishing too deep,” Pitts continued, “Everyday things change in the fall out crappie fishing. You have to get around brush and they are going to be suspended above it or more in the brush. Just make sure to have the boat in the right position before casting.”