Page 4 - Crappie NOW | May 2016

Spring Brush Crappie

BRUSH are ideal. Use your locator to pinpoint
. Early spring covers at the right depth. Again, fish will
fishing, brush and the spawn go together; be mid-depth to somewhat shallow early,
always have and always will. Crappie then move into shallower water as the
are big and active. What’s great for the spawn begins. Step 2 is finding the exact
crappie fisherman is the aggressiveness depth of the crappie.
of fish to hit a bait during this phase. After
the spawn a percentage of the crappie Step 3
will stay shallow and offer opportunities Use the right tactic…vertical jigging.
for catching. Others may be found in Jigging is the best method when crappie
deeper brush piles. are in brushy areas. A 12-foot pole is

Step 1 good for keeping baits out away from the
boat and dipping the bait in and out of
Our minds often picture springtime the cover. A shorter 9- or 10-foot pole
fishing as visible, shallow shoreline brush is easier to handle. It’s also better when
with a minnow under a big float. There fishing exposed brush where overhanging
are still lakes where this brush tactic limbs are present.
exist, but the reality is that most lakes Minnows are the go-to bait to ensure
and reservoirs are so old that shoreline more bites. They are best when fishing is
brush is gone except during high water. very slow. However, when crappie will hit
Laydown treetops are good brush covers a jig, a jig is much easier and quicker to
when you find them. Therefore, mid-depth fish. A jig can be worked in and out of
brush is usually the spot where fishermen cover with fewer hang-ups.
find early crappie, especially during the A 1/16-ounce is the standard,
prespawn period. As the spawn arrives or average, jig size. Many fishermen,
the fish go shallower. During post-spawn including myself, believe a heavier head
a few stay shallow but the majority go has more advantages. It’s true that a
back to mid-depth waters. super-slow fall is sometimes best, but
Mid-depth brush can be visible or a heavy jig can be dropped slowly to
submerged. Fish depth is determined by create a similar effect. The best thing
water clarity, water temperature and other is the heavier jig provides better “feel”
factors. Prespawn crappie are simply fish because it keeps a tighter line than
located in a little deeper water until the a lighter jig. It’s also easier to work in
temperatures and conditions are right to and out of cover. And when fishing mid-
move shallower to spawn. These are the depths, it gets down quicker.
fish you’ll be targeting first. These same Sometimes a minnow is necessary.
locations should be good for post-spawn, A 1/0 Aberdeen hook, a few split-shot
too. and an active minnow is the standard
rig. This set-up allows a minnow to swim
Step 2 around but it causes more hang-ups. An
Find cover. Any cover will hold fish alternative it so lip-hook a minnow on a
but natural and manmade brushpiles jighead. This gives a combination of good

4 Crappie NOW May 2016