Crappie Fishing Tips – Using Live Bait

Crappie fishing with live bait is the best method of catching them. Using different variations of live bait may also be necessary to catch your limit of crappie.

There are many types of live bait to use while fishing for crappie. Most fishermen will agree that in order to catch your limit of crappie you need to fish with live bait. Choosing what live bait to use is the big question.

Shiners or minnows are my first choice of live bait to fish for crappies. I have always had the best luck and caught the most crappie fishing with live minnows. Its very important to use live minnows attached to a small number 8 or 10 hook. Worms and nightcrawlers are my second choice. Crappies have been caught on worms many times. Using a small jig tipped with a worm can be very successful in your quest for your limit of crappie. Using a bobber system and hook with a small weight while trolling or drifting can be an effective way of locating crappie.

Other live bait to use for crappie fishing are as follows: Crickets, wax worms, meal worms, and many others depending on where you live and the lakes and rivers you fish. Sometimes nymphs will also work in the spring.

When fishing for crappie with live bait, make sure your bait stays as fresh as can be. For minnows change the water frequently to keep them fresh. Just don’t put in 80 degree water. That may kill them faster. Keep your worms cool and out of the sun. Keep them in your cooler along with your cold  beverages. That should keep them cool enough. 

Fishing for crappies with live bait around the right structure will produce a lot of fish. Fish around submerged tree limbs and stumps, look for rock piles that are submerged or coming off land into the water where it drops off gradually. Crappie will hang around the edges of these rock piles or out from them 10 to 20 feet. You can find them suspending at any depth, you just need to locate them. Cover the entire area with a jig tipped with live bait for best results. Weed beds in deeper water can also produce crappie as well as many other species of freshwater fish.

Whatever live bait you choose to fish with for crappies, always make sure you have plenty for the time you will be fishing. There is nothing worse than finding the live bait that works best then running out!

Good Fishing