Catch More Spawning Panfish - Part Two of Three
By Babe Winkelman

Authors Note: Last month I intended this month’s column to be “part two of two” and to deal both with spawning crappies and sunfish. Well, as I got into it I decided to break the two species into two separate columns. So today we’ll just talk about crappies. Next time… sunfish.

In part one of this series, we discussed the importance of water temperature as it applies to the spring panfish spawn. To refresh your memory, or get you up to speed if you missed that column, the magic temperatures at which panfish spawn is:
Crappie – 62°-65°
Sunfish – 68°-70°

When you find those water temps in areas with the right bottom content, put on the polaroids… start looking… and start catching! Too help you turn located crappies into a sizzling dinner, I’ll break down some surefire tips and tactics for more springtime action.

For crappies, as the water temperature hits 62° and above, I like to first check out spots that have historically produced fish. Under Minn Kota power, I’ll scope out known spawning grounds and visually look for crappies. Often, particularly in the early stage of the spawn, I’ll see only smaller males going about the business of fanning nests. If you encounter this, you’re halfway home. The bigger females won’t be too far away. More than likely, you’ll find them staging down in thick cabbage or other submerged vegetation near the first break into deeper water. And they’ll be very aggressive.

Personally, I like to attack these “staging” fish with a simple FIXED bobber rig. Why a fixed bobber instead of a slip bobber? Because for whatever reason, the fish seem to strike more aggressively when the bait comes in on a “pendulum” path under the bobber vs. the horizontal drop you get with a slip bobber.

There are multiple lures that will work well for you. I recommend small standard jigs, teardrop-style ice jigs or even a #6 hook under a small splitshot – all fished on 4-pound test monofilament line. For bait, you can’t beat tipping your jig or hook with a crappie minnow or waxworm. Many times, live bait is unnecessary and you’ll slay them on tubes, grub-body jigs or even small jigging spoons hanging under your bobber. As with all fishing, experiment with different lures, colors, etc. and discover what flips their switch.

Another deadly tactic is to present these crappies with a fly. Top producers are Woolly Buggers, Muddler Minnows and small beaded nymphs. These patterns descend very slowly and naturally, which can make a big difference during a light bite. If you’re not a fly fisherman, you can tie these flies behind a weighted bobber and still take advantage of their effectiveness.

In addition to the deeper weedbeds adjacent to the spawning grounds, also scope out neighboring boat docks. Docks provide three essentials for big females: cover, forage and warm water (critical for egg ripening). When you find fish under a dock, pitch your bobber rig right underneath it. Using light line and good spinning tackle, you can also skip little tubes in there and have a ton of fun fighting the slabs out of the dock poles.

When the big females do move into the actual bed areas, sight fishing becomes the name of the game. Look for crappies on or near the bottom, or scooting away from the boat as you approach. If they spook from the bed, hang tight. They’ll be back. Crappies beds are quite small (much smaller than a sunfish bed) and often found within the confines of lilly pad roots, downed trees, in reeds, rice or other cover. So you’re not looking for actual beds, but for those sometimes hard-to-see fish relating to the beds. It becomes a learned skill, and a good pair of polarized sunglasses is a must.

After you’ve located crappies on their beds, the trick is to get your bait right in there with them. They won’t want to rise too far or stray too wide to chase a bait, because their duty is to guard the nest. When they seize the bait, it’s more of a protective act. They want to pick up the intruder and get it away from their eggs.

As you pitch lures to these vigilant fish, you’ll learn that the timing of your hookset is critical. When you see the bait disappear, give her the hookset. If you’re too late, the fish can spit the bait outside the bed before you can get a hook into it. Also, if a particular bedded female flares on a bait but just won’t seem to take it, stay persistent. Change up colors, lure size, presentation, etc. and eventually she’ll cooperate.

As responsible anglers, we are also conservationists. So I would be remiss if I didn’t add one more thing. Spawning crappies, and all fish for that matter, are incredibly vulnerable while they’re creating the future occupants of our lakes and rivers. They’re easily seen, often congregated and typically easy to catch. So if you’re getting a limit for dinner, be kind. Put the big monsters back; they have the genetic “stuff” to benefit the fishery for all time. Keep the “eaters” for the frying pan. And when you have a legal limit of crappies in the box, leave the rest alone so they can make more crappies.

Good Fishing!

Babe Winkelman is a nationally-known outdoorsman who has taught people to fish and hunt for more than 25 years. Watch the award-winning “Good Fishing” and “Outdoor Secrets” television shows on Versus (formerly OLN), Fox Sports Net, WILD TV, WFN and many local networks. Visit www.winkelman.com for air times where you live.