Okay, go ahead and get your teasing out of the way, then tell me how to catch crappie. I've made very few crappie-specific fishing trips over the years, it's just not a species I've ever given purposeful attention to. So just in general, let's say from right now until the end of May, where should I expect to find them? I've gone in the past with a friend and we'd catch what felt like 500 off one boat dock cast after cast after cast. I have no memory what time of year that was. I've gone to Wedowee and found them stacked on every blowdown tree in every pocket, just filled the livewells. Again, I don't really remember what time of year that was.

So when are the crappie on shallow cover, and when should I expect them to leave? I'd prefer to just take my ultralight rods and skip crappie jigs under and around boat docks (or in the case of Wedowee, around the blowdowns in the pockets). Is this bite already over?

Seriously, crippled and blind bruthas can catch crappie from the banks along the roadside with a cane pole....it can't be THAT hard! Richard Gene the Fishing Machine can catch them in a kitchen sink.

go shoot some docks

crappie.com is your friend.

I'm gonna go Sunday and try to find a few on Guntersville but I'm relearning as well.

Good electronics is a start and its all about timing on guntersville

Right now unless you’re set up to multi pole fish, you need a couple packs of the next to smallest cylinder shaped styrofoam floats that Walmart sells, a pack of 1/16 ounce jig heads, and some Bobby Garland Baby Shad jig bodies. I prefer Money Milk color. The 16th ounce jigs will half sink the float. Throw it in tree tops in shallow,1-3, water at the bank and the closer that water is to a creek channel or steep drop the better. Get close to the bank so you can really see the float. If that float raises up, or moves in any way that you didn’t cause, set the hook

The floats I’m talking about are about 1 1/4” long. They are solid orange. The smallest size is about an inch long and white and orange. The 1/16 ounce head will slowly pull it under.

If you buy the 2” floats you might as well stay st home.

Thanks Fur, been tellin my wife for years that shorter is better

😂

Fur what knot do you tie? All I ever caught were on minners. I've seen the loop knot and looks like some youtube experts say that is critical. Is it better than the regular ol knot like a bream hook?

Loop knot.

I am a big fan of slider heads and the slider jigs. We rig them weedless and it’s just like worm fishing for bass. Let it sink slowly jig it watch the line be ready to catch a slab!

I usually throw 1/32 oz jigs right now in about any likely place.

Yup

might as well stay home if youre not using it

The problem I have with fishing in general is you don't know how many is left to catch crappie included. If people are catching them in an area you had better get in there quick. Some years are good and some you best staying home they all gone.
Years ago people would fish under bridges and catch hundreds at night on minnows. Then none and wonder where the fish went.

i juat don't think you can fish them out. they might get pressured and shut off

Nah, doubt it makes much more difference than in your mind. I’ve yet to use a loop knot on a jig.

And never heard of a 'loop knot'. Still catch tons of fish tho

A loop knot definitely allows the jig body have more natural action without "jigging" the pole and also lets it hang in a natural position in the water. It definitely has it's place.

dang I wish I woulda known about a loop knot my whole life I've only been able to put a couple in the boat using a single pole with a jig and 4 lbs test