Crappie Killer Crappie Baits When Rigging Live Bait For Crappie, Increase Your Crappie Catch!
Posted: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
by Mark Fleagle
oldfishinghole.com
Over looked crappie baits
One of the most common questions that anglers often ask is whether crappie can be caught on different natural crappie baits other than minnows.
Yes, but few anglers rigging live bait for crappie ever switch from minnows to other enticing live baits because 90 percent of the time there is no need too. Rosey reds and shiners are enticing meals for crappies and it is hard for them to pass up an easy meal, but what kind of other crappie baits can you use when crappie minnows are not producing? In my article today I have identified two top producers.
Sunfish Fry
Young sunfish fry are a very overlooked bait probably bait probably because you will not find them in a bait shop. Also you will need to check with your states department of natural resources to make sure it is legal to use them for crappie baits. If you fish ponds for crappie then you need to take a good look at sunfish fry when you are deciding on rigging live bait for crappie. Sunfish fry will stay alive in your bait bucket longer then most minnows so they are not only a excellent bait source but a very hardy one as well. You will have to catch them yourself though.If you want to get into a mess of big crappie use sunfish fry for crappie baits in the early spring during the fry hatch. Head to the shallowest points in the pond you are going to fish and start throwing your cast net to catch your sunfish fry. Only keep the 1 to 2 inch fry this is the size you will want to be rigging live bait for crappie.
Shad
If you fish for crappie where there is a healthy population of shad, chances are these fish will end up being about 50% of the crappies daily diet, and it is important to use them in these locations when rigging live bait for crappie. Shad are on the underused list because you cannot purchase them in bait shops, and because they do not keep well in a bait bucket. Most bait shops will sell shad frozen to be used for cutbait to catch catfish but these are not to be used to catch crappie. Fortunately, if you can find the shad schools they are very easy to catch with a throw net and then you can use them immediately after you catch them, use them as crappie baits by fishing them on the outer edges of the shad schools. Make sure you only keep shad 1 to 3 inches in length that you capture with your throw net.
One of the most common questions that anglers often ask is whether crappie can be caught on different natural crappie baits other than minnows.
Yes, but few anglers rigging live bait for crappie ever switch from minnows to other enticing live baits because 90 percent of the time there is no need too. Rosey reds and shiners are enticing meals for crappies and it is hard for them to pass up an easy meal, but what kind of other crappie baits can you use when crappie minnows are not producing? In my article today I have identified two top producers.
Young sunfish fry are a very overlooked bait probably bait probably because you will not find them in a bait shop. Also you will need to check with your states department of natural resources to make sure it is legal to use them for crappie baits. If you fish ponds for crappie then you need to take a good look at sunfish fry when you are deciding on rigging live bait for crappie. Sunfish fry will stay alive in your bait bucket longer then most minnows so they are not only a excellent bait source but a very hardy one as well. You will have to catch them yourself though.If you want to get into a mess of big crappie use sunfish fry for crappie baits in the early spring during the fry hatch. Head to the shallowest points in the pond you are going to fish and start throwing your cast net to catch your sunfish fry. Only keep the 1 to 2 inch fry this is the size you will want to be rigging live bait for crappie.
Shad
If you fish for crappie where there is a healthy population of shad, chances are these fish will end up being about 50% of the crappies daily diet, and it is important to use them in these locations when rigging live bait for crappie. Shad are on the underused list because you cannot purchase them in bait shops, and because they do not keep well in a bait bucket. Most bait shops will sell shad frozen to be used for cutbait to catch catfish but these are not to be used to catch crappie. Fortunately, if you can find the shad schools they are very easy to catch with a throw net and then you can use them immediately after you catch them, use them as crappie baits by fishing them on the outer edges of the shad schools. Make sure you only keep shad 1 to 3 inches in length that you capture with your throw net.
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