What Is The Best Crappie Bait?

I have been asked many times here lately, "What is the Best Bait" to catch crappie?

My answer is if you can not get minnows at the local bait shop, I recommend minnows in a bucket that Berkley has out on the street called Gulp Alive.

The great part about minnows in a bucket is anyone that has used Gulp in the past knows once you put it in water, you can not put it back in the package.

Well, with minnows in a bucket you can and it will not affect the other little fish that are still in the bucket.

Gulp is still Bio-degradable so it will not hurt the fish if they steal the bait and you don't get them. It will digest with no problem, and everyone knows minnows are hard to keep between fishing trips, but not with minnows in a bucket by Berkley.

Keep it out of the direct sunlight and they can last season after season.

You can load up the freezer as if they were alive, and looking at them, it may surprise you of how real they do look.

Rigging them up for crappie if fishing a vertical rig I recommend that you put three on a line about 8 to 12 inches apart.

Tie the hooks direct to the line and you can use a small Jig with a minnow on the tip. Hook the minnow just as if it were a live minnow by hooking the minnow through the lips.

You may use a float or jig it up and down to locate the depth the crappie are in.

This is one time that if you desire to troll with the bait, it will be effective.

Do not forget the Recoil Rig will work great in this situation. It can be found at http://www.secretweaponlures.com

What Type of Rod / Pole and Line Do I Use?

I like to use my open face spinning reel on a med. action rod or a jig pole such as B & M. The line should not be over maybe 10 pound test, lighter if you desire.

The only thing I can tell you is do not forget that Bass Hogs also like Gulp Alive Minnows and dangling three minnows in a bass hog's face might end up with a big fight on your hands.

No matter which fish you choose to go after on your next trip, I promise you by getting out there, you will catch some great tasting fish if you're going for crappie.

Now, if you're going after bass, just stop and think, practice catch and release by putting back the bass to fight another day. Take a picture and let the taxidermist create a replica for your wall.

If you follow the direction listed above, you will load the boat up with the best tasting fish, crappie. 

Do not forget to check with your local Wildlife office about the length and amount of fish that you can keep. No sense in picking up a ticket that will ruin your day on the lake.

Keep the Hooks Wet!

Steve McGoldrick

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