Page 10 - Crappie NOW - March 2019
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SPRING CRAPPIE TIPS
Crappie, too, suspend around giant bridge
pillars or suspended bridges over lakes and Fishing wood is a great spring tip.
rivers. Pillars illuminated from bridge lights
attract insects and small fish. These sound
structures, with or without illumination, attracts “eye” we hooked that night, but there were
various species of game fish. likely more.
Anchor close to pillars throughout the Finding early-spring crappie feeding areas
day and cast a 1/16-ounce plastic jig just requires electronic aids. Sonar units are
past the concrete. Retrieve slowly after the important for navigating at night, a common
jig sinks a few feet and rub against the pillar time to fish for hot-weather crappie.
where predator fish are waiting to ambush A sonar unit’s depth perception remains
unsuspecting minnows. Not rubbing the pillar near perfect on the darkest night by tracing
may mean no strikes when the bite is slow or the bottom contour and displaying fish and
it may not matter if the bite is aggressive. structure with normal accuracy.
One night a 12-pound walleye took my Be warned that different types of sonar are
bridge pillar jig and fought a savage fight to never equal in performance, especially after
the net before being released. Fortunately, we sundown. The newer versions with adequate
were fishing murky water and using six-pound backlighting and controls work great, while
test line. I doubt two-pound test would have models with poor lighting systems are useless.
held her, although it has been done—but not Trolling is another great crappie fishing
by me. Chances are the walleye were feeding technique in early spring. Many troll under
on suspended crappie. That was the only structures like bridges and along submerged
10 Crappie NOW March 2019
