Black Crappie

[theangler]

[size 1]In an effort to help each other get on the fish, we will be adding a series of posts entitled by the type of fishing we are targeting and would like all users who wish to include their "favorite way to catch these fish", "favorite spots" (doesn't have to be exact), "favorite guides for these fish", "tackle tips", "recommended tackle", "beginner tips", "boating techniques" or any other information you feel would be helpful to other anglers targeting this type of fish.[/size]
For State Record Information Please visit: [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/records/"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/records/[/url]
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[MountainMan]

A good way to fish for crappie is with a small gitzit tube on a jig head. Also known as a lil' tough guy.
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[byrumjr]

[font "Arial"][size 2]Black Crappie

Description

The black crappie is a silvery-green to yellowish fish with large dorsal and anal fins of almost identical shape and size. The sides are marked with black blotches which become more intense towards the back. The dorsal, anal, and caudal fins also are marked with rows of dark spots. Crappies have compressed bodies, small heads and arched backs. It has a large mouth with an upper jaw extending under the eye

The black crappie is considered an excellent game fish when taken on light tackle. They are easily caught during pre-spawning periods when the fish are congregated in large schools. Extreme care must be taken in landing these fish because their mouths are very tender. Anglers specializing in catching black crappie know that to be successful the bait must be kept constantly moving. The best baits are small Live minnows, plastic minnows, or small streamer flies cast along the outer edges of weed beds. They will also strike subsurface flies, small spinners, jigs, and tiny crankbaits. The crappie lies in weed beds in deep water during the day and bite best in early morning or toward evening. In summer, with the abundance of small fish for feed, they are more difficult to catch. Small minnows and a jig head and skirt combination are used as bait in winter and Crappies tend to suspend in midwater, so you may have to experiment to find the right depth. [/size][/font]
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[davetclown]

[center][/center][center]Black Crappie [/center] [center](some times called specks or calico bass)[/center] [left]Black Crappie hanging above the platter of sunfish...[/left] [left]Black Crappie like cleaner water than its counter part the White Crappie. the favorite food for this critter is minnows. I have hooked them on worms, grubs, crickets, spinner baits, and repallas. I fish for these primarilary in the winter then again in the early spring.[/left] [left]I use a number #8 arberdein wire hook on 4 pound test line with a small bobber in both summer and winter.[/left] [left]the ones in the pic above range from 10 - 12 inches, I have landed crappie as big as 17 inches and still they get bigger than that.[/left]
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[JapanRon]

Hi there theangler,

I remember about 15 years ago I was visiting up a little north of San Francisco and I went to a lake where you could catch either white or black crappie with live minnows. It was a wide sprawling lake with tons of coves. I thought it was unusual as Southern California doesn't usually allow finned live bait for freshwater lakes except special regulatons (San Diego-Red Threadfin,etc.). Great fun with a bobber, live bait, and fishing from the bank.

JapanRon
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[davetclown]

[center]9 1/4 inch Black Crappie[/center] [center]3rd of Agust 2003[/center] [center]Commerce lake millford MI[/center] [center][/center] [center]9.00pm[/center] [center]using a Mepps Panfish Agularie[/center] [center]
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[lonehunter]

hey dave that lake by the i.g.a. has some monster crappies in it .
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[davetclown]

round lake, carol lake, or long lake?
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[lonehunter]

PRETTY SURE IT WAS ROUND LAKE , SMALL PUBLIC ACESS AREA , VERY STEEP , HAD A BUBBLER IN THE WATER TOO . I COUGHT MANY A PAPERMOUTH THERE AROUND 11" IN LENGTH .

BULLHEAD HEAVEN AT DUSK TOO !
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[davetclown]

all three of those lakes fit your discription.

round lake has the smallest access, 4 parking spots max.

fished all three of those lakes, I beleave long lake is better, or at least it was when the bar was open across the street.

I liked union lake for pike when the little brown jug was open. we could sit by the window and watch our tip-ups, watch the game, watch the pizza disapear from the table, and the beer from the pitcher []
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[lonehunter]

the iga was across the street from the lake , about a 1/4 mile down from there was the public acess , the lady that lived next to it had a russan or norweigen wolf or bear hound , biggest darn dog i ever saw , about the size of a bear . the area was always trashed with burnt bedsprings and old kitchin chairs and such .

the bubler was about 50 yards out from the public acess , that end of the lake is a cove . well that was 25 to 30 years ago .
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[davetclown]

thats round lake.

I know the access you are talking about. that is a privet public access... meaning it belongs to the subdivision.

the state public access is on the west side of the lake. take round lake road west to the next main intersection turn right down about a mile or so on the right you will see the state access site. Only 4 car and boat tralor parking spaces.

the neighbor there still has a couple of big hounds and a slot machein lol.....
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[Flydragger]

Don't forget to tie a balloon on the 1st one you catch and throw it back......

Jussss kiddin....
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