Posts Tagged ‘crappie’

Want To Start Ice Fishing? Here’s What You Need

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Name just about any activity that the entire family can do in the Winter and you can count on it costing hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to outfit yourself and family. But there is one sport the family can do that you can get started in for less than a hundred dollars or so. This sport is Ice Fishing. It’s wholesome fun that you and your family will enjoy, plus you just might fill the freezer with tasty fish!

But what does a Beginner need start ice fishing? One has a variety of choices in fishing tackle available today, a Greenhorn can easily shuck out 100’s of dollars on ice fishing supplies and not have the basic gear to get out on the ice.

With this in mind, I sit down and made up this guide that will help you select the basic gear you’ll need to get started in the Sport of Ice Fishing. You’ll be surprised to know that most of this gear can be had for less than a hundred dollars or so. If you want to spend more, then by all means do so, but if you’re just wanting to try it out a few times, then the money invested is minimal.

To get started, you’ll first be looking at ice augers. It’ll be hard to start fishing through the ice without a hole! Many first timers choose a manual ice auger. For small fish, you’ll be looking at an auger that will bore a 5 to 6 inch hole in the ice. Should you want to catch bigger fish like Walleye, Pike, Musky, Bass or Catfish, you’re need a larger hole. One in the 8 to 10 inch range. Just keep in mind that the bigger the hole, the harder it will be to bore it with a manual ice auger. This is why you’ll see many ice fishermen using a power auger to drill their holes.

You’ll need a way to get the fish to the surface. For this, you’ll want to use tip ups or a rod and reel. Multiple tip ups allow you to fish many holes while a rod and reel will restrict you to only one hole at a time. Some ice fishermen increase the odds of them bringing home fish by using a combination of tip ups and rod and reels.

Don’t overlook the line you’ll be using to catch fish. Regular fishing line will become brittle and break easily when fishing through a hole in the ice. Look for fishing line that is designed specifically for ice fishing. There are many on the market or you can order it through catalog retailers such as Cabela’s.

Now you need something to catch the fish. For panfish like Crappie, Bluegill and Yellow Perch, I like to use mealworms, spikes or nightcrawlers. I also carry along an assortment of ice fishing jigs and spoons. For the bigger fish such as Pike and Bass, I like minnows or tear drop jigs and spoons as these fish can be aggressive. It’s not a bad idea to check with local fishermen to see what they like to use on a specific body of water to catch fish through the ice. This will save you a lot of trial and error in the beginning.

Standing long hours on the lake waiting for fish to bite can get old. Make sure you bring along something to sit on or to wait out the fish. Some people bring lawn chairs while others use a simple five gallon bucket. If you have the funds and really want to get fancy, then a small heated hut can really spoil you!

And that is all you really need to get started ice fishing. It’s a simple Sport that doesn’t require a huge output of cash to be successful. Just follow the regulations for your area and become familiar with safety rules of ice fishing before leaving to get out on the ice. Have fun and don’t be afraid of being sociable on the ice. You might be surprised to find out that ice fishermen like to hang out and shoot the breeze a little. Just don’t crowd other fishermen when fishing!

You can find lots of ice fishing gear on ebay. This will slash your cost while saving money on your next ice fishing purchases. Be sure and get quality equipment before heading out on the ice. Nothing is more frustrating that having equipment break downs while trying to enjoy a day of ice fishing. This includes your tip ups and fishing reels.

5 Ways To Get The Best Night Crappie Fishing Experience

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

If you want to go on night crappie fishing, especially this summer, then you need to consider these tips in order to ensure the success and fun of that night time trip. Careful preparation for night crappie fishing would surely make your expedition an unforgettable one.

First just be sure to bring a light with you. Well, actually make it two. One should be submersible that can be dipped into the water. This lighting allows appeal to the lure fish that get your Crappie. A light above the water likewise needs to be handy so some other boaters could very easily locate you during the night time.

Second, have a bug spray with you. Night crappie fishing brings out other animals too, such as insects. And so unless you would want to spend the night doing mosquito swiping, you’ll follow this tip as it is a very important part of any night time fishing trip.

Make sure to wrap up excess lures, plus anything else you’ll need. Buy live minnows as they are likely to help make the very best bait for catching crappie. That is important due to the fact night crappie fishing signifies that you will be away as soon as the majority of suppliers usually are sealed. If a brand smashes, yourcurrent fishing trip might be cut off rather immediately.

More boating equipment is critical as well, for those identical reasons shown previously. You may not desire to get stuck around the water down the middle ofthe evening. And so, you should definitely deposit boat power packs, fuses, and even a first aid kit. One’s cellphone may be handy as well as you will surely need it when problems arise.

Now, if you have the time to go on watching people who fish crappie in the broad daylight, then observe the spots where they can actually have and not have a catch. Chances are if a certain spot is good for fishing crappies in daytime, it can also be a good spot during the night time. Spend a couple of minutes in your boat and see other people fishing, then choose the spots that you would like to return to.

Lastly, just like any other fishing activity, being prepared will help you make the most out of your adventure. With a little insight on what to expect, surely your night crappie fishing trip will be the best fishing trip ever.

Get more tips on night Crappie fishing. Stop by our site where you can find catching tips and tricks that will sure help you have the best night Crappie fishing ever!

Crappie Tips For Beginning Fishermen

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Crappies are delicious and very enjoyable to catch. If you’re a crappie fishing beginner, start looking for some Crappie tips here.

Some of these beginner Crappie tips can be used to develop an adventurous path into catching Crappie!

*Utilize action rods that are lightweight. It’s actually possible to have success using a bamboo type fishing pole. Rod and reel combos can be quite costly, but there is no reason to spend that much on one. The greatest reel and rod combination is something that’s lightweight like a Zebco 404 or something similar. If you’re going to fish for Crappie, a heavy or medium action rod won’t do. When you use this kind of pole, it’s not as easy to feel the tug of the fish.

*Don’t spend a ton of cash on a bunch of tackle. Fishing line that is light in weight is the main requirement for landing Crappie, (my personal recommendation is using 4-8 lb. test monofilament fishing line), a few No.2 hooks (Eagle Claw’s wire braid gold hooks), and a few corks, and lightweight sinkers. If wished, one may additionally buy a Crappie jig pack. Typically, one may locate a Crappie jig pack with various weighted heads and various colors at the sporting goods shop in your town for less than ten dollars.

*Figure out where you’re going to do your fishing. It’s not very hard to catch crappie by fishing in creeks, rivers, ponds or lakes. Spring and fall are the best times to catch Crappie from the bank of a large lake. Seek cover where the crappies are probably going to be hiding. You’ll often find them under logs and among brush.

*As Crappie bait goes, live minnows are almost always the best. These may be purchased from the bait store in the area. Secure a #2 hook toward the end of the line, around a foot and a half beneath the cork. One may test out various depths. The cork may need to be adjusted up to 36+ inches below the cork. If you’ve got several fishing poles, attempt to use varying depths with all the poles till you locate its sweet spot.

*When utilizing jigs, begin with jig heads which are one eighth of an ounce. I recommend starting with chartreuse, as it is a highly dominant color when Crappie fishing. Let your jig down near a tree stump or fallen log, allowing it to descend all the way down. Take it back up, then drop in once more at a different place close to cover. Remember to go back and drop the jig in the prior place at least one more time before giving up.

*When fishing from a boat or pier, attach a small weight to the underside, and fasten a loop knot 8-12 inches prior to the weight, then add a #2 hook to the loop. Secure a hook beneath the dorsal fin of your minnow, then let the line descend to around the halfway point. You will only drop halfway down at first because almost all Crappie will suspend. Drop to 3/4 down if you don’t feel any Crappie bites on the line.

As soon as you get it figured out, crappie aren’t hard to catch. However, just like with anything else, the further you go the more self improvement you will see. Thus, what reasons do you have for not going out this Saturday and Sunday and begin to use these Crappie tips to get some of your own Crappie?

The Crappie Tips for starting fisherman will help you begin to catch Crappie. Yet, when you wish to increase the chances and find additional Crappie fishing secrets, visit this link.

categories: crappie tips,crappie fishing secrets,fishing tips,fishing secrets,fishing for beginners,black crappie,white crappie,crappie,freshwater fish,sunfish,game fish,fish,fishing,adventure

Techniques On How To Catch Crappie

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Fishing is one of the earliest professions, and most classic sources of fun and excitement. It is a exceptional tradition that has been passed down from dad to son for a really long time. People utilize this activity for both recreational reasons and professionally, making it a really large industry. With that being said, numerous individuals are curious about how to catch crappie.

The crappie is a really popular species that is seen throughout the world. There are both black crappie and white crappie, nonetheless, they normally live in the same waters and are nearly identical in appearance. These fish are easy to catch, they taste amazing, and can be found in lakes, ponds, and rivers across the nation.

This species is thought to have started in the eastern USA up through areas of Canada. They have, however, been stocked throughout the area, and the world, making catching them a popular pastime in numerous places. They feed on a diet of minnows and small insects.

Although they can be landed throughout the year, most anglers think the perfect time to be the spring. This is plausible for two reasons. Generally, fish become more active during the spring because of the increased water temperatures. Also, fish usually multiply, often called spawning, during this period. This makes spring and summer the best crappie fishing season.

A mixture of fishing baits and lures can be used to catch these fish. And that’s one of the tips on how to catch crappie. As far as lures go, opt for those that look like small minnows or bugs. Common ones include flies, jigs, grubs, and spinners. As far as live bait goes, you can’t go wrong with picking up a couple of dozen minnows from a local bait shop, or the classic night crawler will suffice as well.

There are some easy techniques that you can use to bring these fish in. You can fish either from the bank or shore, or from any boat. These fish tend to gravitate toward cover, which is underwater or semi-submerged structures. Ideal places are rock beds, stumps, and trees that have fallen into the water. Take small spinners or plastic grubs and throw them around these structures, migrating to other spots if you find no luck. Another great method is using live bait, assisted by floats.

Fishing is a good past time that fathers and sons have been learning together for a very long time. Crappie fishing is a great experience for both novice and experienced fisherman. They are a delicious fish that are easily caught. By discovering some basic info and using the right equipment, in the right place, you will have hours of fun.

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Proven Tips for Bait Crappie Fishing

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Many crappie anglers are a bit frustrated when it comes to crappie bait fishing in the fall. When the water temperature starts to cool down, the feeding and living patterns of the crappie can be unpredictable.

The patterns you were predicting and using in the late summer months may not be effective in the fall. The bait fish have stopped spawning so there’s more competition for the bait fish that are left in the water.

However, this can be used to have a successful crappie fishing in the fall. We just need to study some few facts.

It’s true that a bait fish will be much more larger and you might assume that you would need a larger sized crappie jig in this situation to match the size of the crappie’s main food source and in most of the time you are correct.

But what you need to keep in mind in the late fall as the water’s temperature continues to drop, the metabolism of the crappie will also drop. And the crappie will not be able to chase your crappie jigs unless you’re going to use a very slow fishing presentation.

Now this is something that goes against your reasoning and what you would normally do when the food source for crappie is bigger in size. If you want to know how to catch a crappie, you can utilize smaller jig sizes or use some technique to slow down your larger crappie jigs.

The reason many crappie fishermen use a smaller bait fishing presentation such as small jigs is because they float downward through the water at a much slower pace. This is just right for the slow crappie in the late fall and winter.

Like I’ve mentioned before, you can still use larger crappie jigs but they need to be presented very slowly. If you want to catch crappie with a bigger crappie jig then you need to use a heavier line because this will make it sink much slower in the water.

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Proven Areas For Catching Lots of Crappie

Monday, January 11th, 2010

There are many fishing strategies that you can use to catch some crappie but looking for their hiding spots is definitely important.

Even those who are already a very seasoned crappie fisherman can sometimes have some bad judgements. There are some general guidelines that we can follow when looking for the best crappie fishing spots.

There are specific times of the year when the crappie are going to hide out in deeper parts of a lake. There are many starting points to look but one of the best when they’re not yet hiding to avoid the warm summertime is among the weed beds. Other great places to look for is inside sunken logs, streams, lily pads and other places where they can hide during the day.

Because of this reason, this is where fishermen is going to look for crappie. If you want to learn how to catch crappie then being able to pinpoint these crappie hideouts and carefully getting into casting position in order not to startle the crappie is the first step. The crappie is somewhat active during the spring and autumn, so a jig that’s moving fast, a cork, or a bob with a minnow will be wonderful for the angler.

When in the summertime, anglers will want to definitely check out for crappie in shaded areas that are very near to deeper waters. Looking under docks and bridges are good places to look along with the typical cover they prefer. You will have more chances of success from dusk to dawn, especially in the summer since the fish love to feed after the dark.

You can find crappie in brooks and rivers that have fallen trees and those in the banks. If you’re lucky, you might be able to bring in some bass and trout in these places. Even if you didn’t catch any crappie, you will have some chances of catching something else.

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categories: crappie,bass,outdoors,recreation,sports