Fish, regardless of species, that are easily provoked into striking, seem to suggest a few general rules that may get bigger fish to hit. Today was the third week that 11" crappies were located in a certain cove with rocks and weed islands. Other species were also present and the strikes of all were easily detected up the line allowing for firm hook sets. But one thing I've found when catching is this easy, is to use larger soft plastics, heavier jig heads and bright white or other florescent colored grubs.

As the water temperature drops, it seems fish are more excited about the lures that enter their domain and get really irritated when something bright and large shimmies before their eyes. My partner and I used just that and boated over 30 crappie in just one area alone before moving the boat 40' and repeating the catch rate of two fish per minute.

Smaller lures would have worked no doubt, but the faster speed of a 1/8 oz jig vs a 1/32oz and the longer and brighter soft plastic, seemed to make catching much easier by raising aggression levels to the max.