Page 7 - Crappie NOW - August 2017

SIZZLING HOT CRAPPIE

Phillips’ Tackle for Summer Crappie
* Line and Sinker - Phillips likes 8-pound test SpiderWire Invisi-Braid due to
the heavier boat wakes while fishing in the summertime. Phillips feels his bites
better with that thin, small braided line than with monofilament and uses a lighter
hook set than when fishing shallower water with monofilament that stretches.
Phillips likes a 1/2-ounce sinker on the bottom of his line to get the bait down to
the depth of water where the crappie are and to knock the hook out of any type
of wood structure.

* Poles - Phillips prefers ACC Crappie Stix poles, made in Illinois by Andy
Lehman. “I use the jigging poles designed to hold in your hand,” Phillips says.
“Fishermen may get 30 to 100 bites but not be able to feel many of them. I like
the strong 10’ and the 11’ jigging poles to get far out in front of and on the side
of my boat to pull a 2-pound plus crappie in without a net.”
Since Phillips fishes with braided line, the least bit of slack in the line may allow
the hook to pop out of the crappie’s mouth. So, Phillips like to swing a big crappie
(2-1/2-pounds) into the boat rather than use a dip net.

- John E. Phillips

7 Crappie NOW August 2017