Lots of anglers ditch their catfish poles and bass-fishing rods this time of year to catch a mess of crappie. With a slew of spinners, crank baits, grubs and other bait choices available, we asked ...

Henry David Thoreau once wrote, "Many people go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." In my experience, this rings especially true for crappie fishing. Let's be ...

Fall hunting seasons are about to jump into full swing. Just don’t make the mistake of stashing that crappie fishing gear in a spot where you can’t get to it in pretty short order. You could miss out ...

are the beginning and the end of it. No other panfish so deliciously transforms from fish to fillet (although some fishermen, including me, might argue for the virtues of a platter of perch). In the ...

First it's walleye, then white bass. Now it's crappie that brings excited anglers to waters large and small. May is when crappie move shallow to spawn and become easier to catch. Any bush, branch or ...

Crappie fishing can unnerve the most resolute angler. In the chilly advent of spring, our favorite panfish often seem to have a bad case of lockjaw and “normal” fishing tactics won’t produce. You can ...

Anglers who've been fishing most of their lives sometimes learn a lesson. Mike McBride hadn't made more than four casts when a crappie the size of a dinner plate nailed his small jig. His first fish ...