What made a dramatic improvement for you catching them?

[wasilvers]

This book In-Fisherman Crappie Wisdom: Handbook of Strategies: Al Lindner: 0053038100037: Amazon.com: Books
I went from a guy who only caught crappie by accident to one who can find them very regularly. If i find myself not catching any, I scan the book (yes I keep a copy in the boat) and move to find them. There are only about 50 pages that matter, and only 2-3 per type of lake you are on/season you are in.

[skeetbum]

Having been bitten long ago by the fishing bug I have pursued fish in every way that I could afford to. I switched to Crappie as my primary target about 9 years ago. I had light tackle, sonar, and a power drive TM already. I found CDC in late '07 and began asking all the questions a newbie would and the ball began to roll downhill. Help from many on many subjects sped the learning curve and the desire to chase Crappie hasn't slowed down yet. I guess that the folks here being patient with me and doing whatever it took to get their point across in answering my Q's was the biggest help. The locals in Middle Tennessee were always there and showed me how, where and why the fish did what they did. The Middle Tennessee Crappie Club came from that group and the help they offer goes on still today.

[huntinslabs]

This site as far as Crappie fishing. Lots of great information and support from the sponsors. Grizzly jig was one of the best bits of info I gained early. Horrible tackle selection locally here.

[Tony the Tiger]

Any subject on crappie fishing you have a question about type it in the search bar at the top of the page and you'll find a treasure trove of information

[doggone]

Reading bassmaster magazine for about five years back in the 90's. By reading the articles from the fisherman about how they managed to catch fish. I found that much of what applied to bass also applied to other fish.Especially those fish like crappie,and bluegill that have some things in common with bass.

These guys....fished year round....regardless of conditions....they relentlessly studied lakes and the biology.They equipped themselves with every advantage they could conceive. They tried every combination of tackle,lure,jig,scent,lure enhancement, anything...the very best never ever was not willing to try something new.

They went on the water with one intention no matter when it was....figure out a pattern to catch fish...always believe that something...somewhere....sometime was going to catch something. You just had to find what it was. They learned that some days the very most subtle thing made all the difference.

They would fish anywhere...the middle of grass beds...in the thickest timber, way up a creek,in the middle of the lake,in the creek beds,out of the creek beds,on ledges,off ledges,on humps,off humps,murky water.clear water,running water ,still water,pre spawn,post spawn,summer,winter,....they did not care...they only wanted to find the fish and then figure out how to make them bite. Some guys would try to settle on fewer things, but in the end the most adaptable guys have been the best overall day in and out.

Now not to take away from all the people that have shown me things,especially the locals at places.And people that I have fished with. But these guys showed me how to go on the water with the biggest bag of tricks and techniques and keep my eyes open.

I am not even a crappie fisherman...I am primarily a light tackle multi-species one pole fisherman.But in the process of applying this methodology I just kept catching more and more crappie,among other fish.

Multi pole fishing... especially on reservoirs... is really a different type of fishing and takes some specific technique and knowledge. As is those that target only one species. But even they can benefit some from these methods.

[Billadelphia]

if you need 14 + rods to fish at one time you might as well just run a trot line with jigs and minnows on it how rediculous ,how fun is that NOT, thats not fishing.Time on the water and good people here on crappie.com with great tips and answers to any and all questions has improved my crappie fishing

[Alphahawk]

When I started using Trout Magnets and 2# test line my catch rate went through the roof. The switch to 2# test line was the biggest improvement for me....although it does have a learning curve when you start using such light line.

Regards

[ET Fish]

if you need 14 + rods to fish at one time you might as well just run a trot line with jigs and minnows on it how rediculous ,how fun is that NOT, thats not fishing.Time on the water and good people here on crappie.com with great tips and answers to any and all questions has improved my crappie fishing

Actually, that IS fishing. It may not be what you prefer, nor what I prefer, for that matter. However, some do, and the FISHING regulations support it, and limit it.

[CrappiePappy]

Actually, that IS fishing. It may not be what you prefer, nor what I prefer, for that matter. However, some do, and the FISHING regulations support it, and limit it.

I agree. And I find the idea of multi-pole fishing being called "seining" or statements like "might as well be dragging a net" a little bit out of context. There's NO guarantee that you will catch more fish, simply because you have more poles being used. When I was a kid & fishing with my Grandparents ... in a boat, tied off to a tree, fishing minnows with 2-3 poles each, we were NEVER considered to not be "sportsman-like", seining, or dragging a net by those that chose to fish with only one pole. Other than the fact that we weren't "moving" across the water, what's the difference between our "still fishing" method and Spider Rigging, as far as the number of poles deployed ??

... cp

[Crappie ciller]

Good electronics- game changer for me. Lots of good answers to this great thread!