Page 6 - Crappie NOW - April 2018
P. 6
LIFE ON THE RIVER
baits to the fish. Spider rigging is a good
technique for putting multiple offerings to Electronics is a key tool for finding the best
the fish at once. Dannenmueller’s boat spots. Time spent with electronics leads to
allows two fishermen to set side-by-side on more success.
the front deck. A setup of eight 14- or 16-foot
BnM BGJP poles, in single stem Driftmaster gates being opened or heavy rains. The
rod holders and double-hook rigs provide a river is an ever-changing water forcing a
16-bait presentation. Each rig can vary but fisherman to adjust when necessary. It could
is often a straight minnow on top, down to be heavier weight or finding areas with less
a ½-ounce sinker, down to a Road Runner current or clearer water.
Jig with Bobby Garland Swim’R or Minnow “I like to push the baits into the cover
Mind’R body. He pre-ties these rigs so if he and leave them there. They can be jigged,
breaks off thirty times in a day it allows for a but having more baits is a big advantage
quick re-rig and back into the water. even though it is more work. After catching
fish at the spot, slowly backing out will often
draw more action.
Pick the side of the channel with “One more trick is to pay attention to
shade. the sun when fishing drop-offs. Pick the side
of the channel with shade. One side of a
channel may be good in the morning and the
other side in the afternoon.”
“When they are hungry they eat. River
crappie can be aggressive. Cold fronts
and water conditions can change that. As - Tim Huffman
everyone knows, rivers have current from
6 Crappie NOW April 2018
