first time chasing crappies - ideas/tips?

[thatoneguy]

I've decided to branch out a little and I'm going to try fishing for crappies this weekend for the first time. Leech Lake area, though I'm going to pick a little smaller, more manageable body of water for my first attempt

Any tips for a noob as far as what jigs/bait to use, ideas about what kind of structure to look for?

[reinhard1]

sure i'll give you my shot at it. first i would study the contour map of the lake unless your familiar with it. if the lake has a deep basin that's where i would go. i would have confidence that i would find crappies suspended there. i went to a lake up north i have never fished but always interested me. small with two deeper "holes"or "basins". went there a couple of years ago and headed right out there and found the crappies there. then i know of a lake up there that is shallow and has stained water. 11 foot max. tried the deep spot had some action but did better where the weedline ended [along with some pike].

i would always have minnows handy. sure there is a growing popularity of plastics and the do work. but minnows on a plain hook sometimes is the answer, especialy during low light conditions. panfish jigs with eurolarva is another item i have handy. sure is fun to see the suspended fish in the deep water. suspended in the deeper areas or shoreline weedlines in the shallow lakes.artificials when they are active and live bait when they are not. good luck.

[Borch]

I like to set up with a jigging rod and a bobber rod with a lively minnow when I'm in the fishhouse. If I'm out hole hoping I'll just jig usually with plastics like a Lindy toad and a nuggie or at Ratso. I did very well up in that area in December but the bite was 90% plastics at that time. It might be different now. Check out basin area and deeper flats near the basins like reinhart mentioned..

[Jim Uran]

Check out the bars nearest to those deeper basin areas. If you don't get them out over the deeper water, move in closer to the bars/structure.

My favorite jig is from Custom Jigs&Spins it's called a demon, if that doesn't produce try a red lindy frostee, or a red northland forage minnow jig.

Those are my three favorite jigs for agressive crappies.

[thatoneguy]

Thanks for getting me pointed in the right direction, guys. The lake a neighbor pointed me to looks like it bottoms out at 35', so it's not super deep. I'll start deeper and just hop around til I find something!

Would you recommend fishing in the evening and into dark, or can you pick them up throughout the day?

[reinhard1]

if its a clear lake low light conditions are best with early evening usualy the best in my experience. although some may be picked up during the day suspended, but much more early morning and late afternoon and evening. stained water you could have action all day with good action up to evening. realy havent had the best of luck into evening on stained lakes. but thats me and the stained lakes i fish are relativly shallow. i would start out on that deep hole and check the flasher. good luck.

[Borch]

It depends on the lake. Many had very good day bites where others it doesn't get started until the sun hits the tree tops.

[thatoneguy]

I didn't make it out because the fishing was so good on Pike Bay! I'm going to try to make it out this Sunday, and I'll let you know if I have any success.