Page 3 - Crappie NOW | July 2016

EDITOR/ SR. WRITER Opening Cast
WRITERS
Darl Black Hard to believe that
Vic Attardo July is here and the majority
Terry Madewell of the United States’ crappie
Brad Wiegmann have already spawned.
Ron Presley This brings on a new wave
Vernon Summerlin of fishing the post-spawn
John Neporadny, Jr crappie. Fishing for this
wonderful fighter and great
© Copyright 2016 food fish doesn’t end with
the spawn. The techniques
Jim McClave at Conncaut Lake. to catch them change.
photo by Darl Black Fish must eat regularly like men and women
to sustain life. After the spawn, the crappies’
urges to eat accelerates to compensate for
the rigors of spawning and to prepare for the
next cycle of life. This requires them to pursue
their food, mainly shad and minnows, in open,
deeper water. Days after the spawn, crappie
will school up and herd schools of their food.
Feeding sprees can last for minutes or hours
depending upon the weather, water conditions,
moon phases, current and stability within each.
Post spawn can be a very productive
time but fishermen must go to the fish that
are mainly in open water, on ledges and on
flats where the food is. The most productive
techniques include: spider rigging, pulling and
pulling Offshore Planner Boards.
Using your electronics to show the depths
and areas the fish are located in, you then
push and pull baits at or above those depths.
The baits of choice normally include Bobby
Garland and Roadrunner jigs tipped with my
favorites; Bobby Garland StrollRs; Johnson
Fishing Shad crankbaits; small Rat L Traps;
and Johnson Fishing Thin Fishers. These baits
allow you to fish large areas quickly as the fish
will be widely scattered. The tactics can last
all summer.
As the academic schools take a break be
sure to take a child fishing and catch some
crappies. Beautiful warm weather and good
fishing can mean a lifetime of memories.

God Bless and Good Fishing,
Dan Dannenmueller, Publisher

3 Crappie NOW July 2016