Thread: Go to bait

I would think more info would be needed to make a good suggestion, water temp? color? body of water? the bite is yet to come in Sw Ohio form what Ive experianced

Caught 60 good ones with a buddy the other day in sw ohio....all on plastic split tails, which is the go-to.

Im a rookie, but a lot of people prefer black/chartreuse, curly tails, tube jigs.... you should be able to buy crappie minnows from any local bait store. I like using 1/16oz jig heads with #2 or #1 hooks for the most part, you change the weight of the head depending on the depth and activity of the fish. I also use 3" jigs, rather than 1.5" and 2".... ( I will still use the smaller if I am missing too many on the larger ones.) If minnows are avail. I always stop and buy a couple dzn. some people put the minnow on the jig head, some use a #2 hook, small split shot, and a bobber... I like using 2 jigs on 1 line and putting a minnow on with my jigs. In a week or 2 the fish will be every where..... just look for a bunch of people fishing the same bank and fish there, you can look and see what they are using, as to most people try to keep their bait a secret. Bobby Garland is a good bait also, Monkey Milk, baby shad, and tons more... Where are you fishing at? And some times the fish will be 6" from the top or lying right on the bottom. So depending on where they are will let you know to use a bobber or not. I have only crappie fished about 3 or 4 years now, and have yet to limit out. but have caught plenty of fish over 12" a few in the 13 ranger and 1 or 2 14" fish.... when the big fish start hitting in a few weeks you wont want to keep 9 or 10 inch fish.... Hope this helps, like I said there are guys on here that have fished for crappie longer than I have been alive, they are they ones you should listen to. Talk a little advice from each of us and try it all... everyone has different ways and mostly all of them work. Welcome to the crappie world and forum, these guys really can fish. Good luck and keep us posted..... Don't give up if you go out a few times and get skunked, I have been out 5 or 6 times this year and have only had 1 decent day so far, and that was 7 keepers out of 50 fish total in 5 hours of fishing.... technique is a huge thing also....

Roadrunner

Originally Posted by CrappyFisher

Im a rookie, but a lot of people prefer black/chartreuse, curly tails, tube jigs.... you should be able to buy crappie minnows from any local bait store. I like using 1/16oz jig heads with #2 or #1 hooks for the most part, you change the weight of the head depending on the depth and activity of the fish. I also use 3" jigs, rather than 1.5" and 2".... ( I will still use the smaller if I am missing too many on the larger ones.) If minnows are avail. I always stop and buy a couple dzn. some people put the minnow on the jig head, some use a #2 hook, small split shot, and a bobber... I like using 2 jigs on 1 line and putting a minnow on with my jigs. In a week or 2 the fish will be every where..... just look for a bunch of people fishing the same bank and fish there, you can look and see what they are using, as to most people try to keep their bait a secret. Bobby Garland is a good bait also, Monkey Milk, baby shad, and tons more... Where are you fishing at? And some times the fish will be 6" from the top or lying right on the bottom. So depending on where they are will let you know to use a bobber or not. I have only crappie fished about 3 or 4 years now, and have yet to limit out. but have caught plenty of fish over 12" a few in the 13 ranger and 1 or 2 14" fish.... when the big fish start hitting in a few weeks you wont want to keep 9 or 10 inch fish.... Hope this helps, like I said there are guys on here that have fished for crappie longer than I have been alive, they are they ones you should listen to. Talk a little advice from each of us and try it all... everyone has different ways and mostly all of them work. Welcome to the crappie world and forum, these guys really can fish. Good luck and keep us posted..... Don't give up if you go out a few times and get skunked, I have been out 5 or 6 times this year and have only had 1 decent day so far, and that was 7 keepers out of 50 fish total in 5 hours of fishing.... technique is a huge thing also....

What he said!
That pretty well sums it up I'd say.

Drop shotting purple bass worms in gold mine.......
(my honest answer is Bobby Garland baby shad....tight line or under a float)

36 volt cattle prod works well.......stuns them just long enough to pick out the ones you want to keep, but really JeepGuy is right can't go wrong with th Bobby Garlands.

Beetle spin or 1/16 jig with a black/char curley tail, or a pink and white tube.

And don't forget the Crappie Nibbles!

Be safe all!