Page 6 - Crappie NOW | June 2015

On the Edge of Success

Deep Weed Edges
Clear lakes have weeds that
offer good holding locations. The
pockets and outside edges of the
weeds are great places to find
crappie. Crappie can be deep
inside the weeds but are much
more likely to be on the edges.
Slow trolling, casting and casting
a slip-float are good tactics. Once
the strike zone is found, the best
method can be selected so baits
can be concentrated to the high-
percentage spots.

Fence Rows
Truman Lake fishermen
know the importance of a good
fence row. The rows were left when
the lake was built and provide
a long edge for crappie to use
as a holding or travel structure.
The rows are excellent because
they provide both horizontal and
vertical edges.
Vertical jigging dominate
so baits can be placed up and
down, or sometimes pitched, and
worked at different depths with a
minimum of hang-ups.

Sun-Shade Edges
Most fishermen don’t think
of shade as an edge. However, Reeling a crankbait crappie to the boat is often a
snags, bridge pilings, and matter skidding it across the top of the water.
docks are all shade producing
structures. Sometimes a crappie
will hold behind a snag on the shady side; simpler than in previous decades. Almost
or along a dock within the shade next to any technique works when fishing a ledge
sunny water. Whether it’s for concealment dotted with cover. Getting a bait to the fish
or for comfort due to their big eyes, crappie in the cover is the key.
love shade. It’s simple and quick to check Ledges are also good when pulling
to see if active fish are present in a shady crankbaits. Crappie will sometimes hug a
spot. ledge but other times they simply use it for
a reference. They’ll often suspend directly
up over the top. I’m guessing that a nearby
Ledges edge gives them a good reference for their
A drop-off creates an edge. It’s a position and it’s a known structure where
perfect place to catch crappie. Today’s schools of baitfish like to roam.
electronics makes ledge fishing much

6 Crappie NOW June 2015