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Great to have you with us for another week of Target Crappie. Glad you’re here and got some juice for ya! 😃
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Nationwide juice from Bobby Garland's Skylar St Yves
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We got ahold of Skylar St Yves, brand manager for Bobby Garland, and asked a bunch of questions. He gave us some serious intel on how BG pros and guides are catching ‘em and then some...starting with trends:
> "Crappie, at least at the highest levels – the tournament scene, major guide services, anything that's serious business in the crappie world – has all pretty much migrated toward just single-pole, long-pole jigging for basin fish.
> "A lot of times you show up at these places, and casting is the better option."
His 2c on the spawn and what we can be focusing on now:
> "For whatever reason, people kind of associate the crappie spawn with this excellent fishing where the banks flood with fish. In all reality, it's kind of a mixture.
> "People are catching fish as they're coming in pre-spawn, pushing up, checking spawning habitat, feeding and then pushing back out.
> "When crappie spawn, it's over pretty quickly. They come in, females drop eggs, and they're out. Males provide a little bit of parental care, but they're not good parents. It's not like bass, where they're guarding heavily.
> "We're going to get the shad spawn moving in right now. We were seeing gizzard shad spawning on Broken Bow [OK] last week, so we're kind of in a good push.
> "I'm getting reports from some of my Midwest staff in places like central IN that pre-spawn is really heating up for them."
How can folks get dialed-in post-spawn?
> "End of April into early May – we call it 'the kitchen-sink season' – you can throw anything out there. They're hungry, they're aggressive. It's a great time to cast, a great time to troll
> "You're going to see a lot of really good catch rates for anglers who aren't using electronics at all, which is great. Same deal with down scan – marking piles, marking structure, dropping a buoy marker and casting toward it. That's what's going to dominate.
> "Live technology is far less important. Like Brad Chappell in MS, who runs the Crappie Connection – when they get into that May-June period, he goes back to trolling because those fish are super aggressive.
> "As these fish really start to get aggressive and post-spawn fish start to school up, Baby Shad Swimmers, Stroll'Rs, spider-rigging and trolling become really prevalent again."
Why do they eat small baits like the Itty Bit series so well?
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> "Profile [importance] has really exploded within the crappie fishing community.
> "While [the Itty Bit series] was in testing, it was kind of like the first generation of LiveScope. A lot of crappie anglers down South – the guides were transitioning over to this FFS.
> "Before FFS nobody would've touched a bait under 2 inches. It was just too small. But once we got the testing and everything going and started seeing how these fish responded, we started putting the pieces together.
> "These fish are eating the majority of their diet made up of stuff that's small. Even the big fish – phytoplankton, bugs, larvae, all that makes up a pretty substantial portion of a crappie's diet when it's available.
> "We had some anglers up north who loved the Baby Shad in the summertime, and they wanted something for the ice but they told us most of our baits – even the 2-inch baits – were just too big.
> "Around mid-June we’ll transition back to Itty Bits, cut a Baby Shad in half, go 1.75 inches or smaller, and slow down. Fish get lethargic, and they’re keying in on shad fry, bluegill fry, bass fry."
Skylar said some new colors in the Itty Bit Slab Hunter and Itty Bit Mayfly are coming in the near future.
Why do you think colors like 'monkey milk' and that limited run 'Lone Star shad' (pictured) so good?
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> "What we’ve learned – like with 'monkey milk' – is that it's not just color, it’s how it absorbs and reflects light. That pearlescent base refracts light based on conditions – blue in bright sun, pale in cloud or mud.
> "It's a perfect match for what fish are used to seeing underwater.
> “'Lone Star shad' is similar. It’s got red flake and a blue back, so from underneath the fish sees that contrast. That’s why laminate baits are popular – 2 tones give fish something to key on.
> "'Hummingbird', 'june bug pearl chartreuse' – those kinds of colors play a lot right now [too]. Purple is underrated in crappie fishing...Apr-June is big for those.
> "'Pecan cream' is another one – it looks like a fathead minnow. We brought it into the Live Roamer, now it’s in Itty Bit Mayfly and it’s been great.
> "'Diamond mist' is another natural color that flies under the radar. It's got a silver top and glacier-style belly that gives off just a hint of pink in the right light.
> "That's where we’re at – 'monkey milk', 'blue ice', 'diamond mist.' Active baits like the Stroll'R, Baby Shad Swimmer, Slab Hunt'R. You're going to have fish gorging on adult shad, then keying on fry. Baby Shad will be the upper limit for bait size."
Any new techniques that are catching them right now?
> "Not new techniques as much as refinements.
> "Guys long-pole jigging are using more subtle rod-tip action. People are learning that crappie like to ambush – they want to feed up or from behind.
> If your bait is bouncing 2' up and down, it’s spooking them. Subtle rod shakes, just enough vibration, is all it takes to get the tail flicking.
> "You want that bait coming through the water horizontally or on a 20-30 degree [rising] angle. Anything steeper and fish lose interest.
> "Guys with FFS can force-feed a fish by dropping it right on their nose. But most of what’s working now is that subtle rod-tip shake. Doesn’t matter if you’re jigging or casting – keep that bait looking nervous but natural. That’s what’s catching fish."
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"Wrong bait color? They wouldn't eat it. Wrong fall rate? Hard pass."
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That's Target Crappie’s Joel Vandekrol talkin' 'bout his latest trip chasing specks on a central IA rez. He got into a mess of fish with a couple buddies.
That lake’s loaded with shad, shiners, and picky slabs – but they cracked the code and got after 'em:
> "Jumped in the boat with 2 of my closest friends (Brady and Austin) in search of specks for a fish fry. Water clarity was 18-24 inches and temps hovering around that 56-58 degree range.
> "Scoped a few large expansive flats/creek channels in deeper water (25-35'). Found some roamers out on the basin but most of the fish had started the migration towards the shores.
> "We checked mid-level brush close to creek channels and rocky shorelines and found them loaded with fish.
> "We set the Garmin Force Kraken in anchor lock 30-40' upwind from a couple cedars and started slinging baits past the trees and bringing them back over the tops.
> "In just a few minutes Brady and Austin had a handful of 11-13 inch specks in the livewell – I had one nice one come unbuttoned at the boat.
The guys were catching them on a mix of Z-Man Baby BallerZ (blue glimmer sparkle) and Bobby Garland Original Baby Shads (monkey milk glo) rigged on unpainted 1/32-oz jigs from a DO-IT molds.
> "I was fishing bright colors that have worked well here in the past, and started with a 2" Guppy GrubZ (bubble gum) on a 1/16-oz chartreuse jighead – one of my favorite baits for crappies up doing their thing.
> "I'm deliberately stubborn when fishing. Sometimes it works. This was not one of those times so I decided I'd give in to their system.
> "They had 15-20 real nice ones in the box, and after I made the switch I started catching them at the same rate. Spent the next 20-30 minutes fishing, but I had to put the rod down and pick up my camera to get a few beauty shots.
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[Joel is pretty dang good with a camera!]
On relating to structure:
> "Bigger fish were hanging on the outside of brush and the small fish were packed like sardines tight to the timber. We fished that spot for about 2 hours and the longer we stayed, the smaller the fish got.
> "It was clear they were feeling the pressure so we decided to move to the shoreline about 50 yards away, and we found fish there too.
> "We stopped at a patch of willows and scattered timber stretching down into the water and got into another school of quality fish.
> "They definitely showed a preference to 'monkey milk' hues, and if it didn't have blue glitter, they wouldn't touch it. Wanted nothing to do with purples or usual white/gray shad colors."
Fall rate:
> "This was just as important as the color itself, and it was the perfect recipe for the guys who doubled up more times than I could count in a short afternoon.
> "Wrong bait color? They wouldn't eat it. Wrong fall rate? Hard pass. Had to have blue and be semi-transparent."
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Tim Howell’s playbook for post-spawn slabs
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Tim Howell, veteran crappie guide on MS's Grenada and Sardis lakes, shares his 2c on targeting post-spawn fish, adapting to FFS and optimizing gear and tactics. Here’s his unfiltered perspective:
How are you targeting fish this time of year? Where are they in the spawning process?
> "On our flood-control lakes – Grenada, Enid and Sardis – fish follow predictable spawn patterns. Grenada spawns first, followed by Enid, then Sardis. This gives us options to move between lakes based on the spawn."
> "When Grenada's spawn ends, we shift to Enid for a couple of weeks, then north to Sardis. Once Sardis' spawn is over and fish move up, we return to Grenada, where fish transition into summertime patterns.
> "Currently, fish have pulled out, the spawn's over, and they’re in a post-spawn funk – lethargic and lazy, just worn out. You have to cover a lot of water to boat fish now. They’re at creek mouths in 8-13' of water.
> "They’re starting to recover, getting hungry, and feeding on shad, using creeks and ditches to travel. Creeks and ditches are like highways for crappies during spawning. You target them similarly, just in reverse in the post-spawn."
Do your crappie relate to specific bottom structure or mud types?
> "Not really. Fish might suspend 4' off the bottom in 18' of water or roam 40-50' out. On sonar, they dive to the mud when you get within 20-25'. Sometimes they rise again, and you can chase them.
> "Last summer and fall, they’d lie on flats, then rise to feed for an hour before dropping. Sonar reveals this behavior, but it’s unclear if it’s new or just newly visible."
How has forward-facing sonar (FFS) changed fishing in your area?
> "The last 5 or 6 years, FFS has transformed fishing from A to Z. It’s how we’re catching fish now. I'm not a hater – I use the best sonar available. But I hate what it’s done to fishing. It’s like the internet: the greatest and worst invention. It confirms what you believe on-screen.
> "It’s increased angler numbers and success rates. 10 years ago, 20 of 100 boats caught fish. Now 80 do. This pressure has educated fish, making them harder to catch.
> "A guy with 6 months of effort can match my 20 years of experience, which feels like it negates my work."
How has it changed the skill set needed for fishing?
> "Before sonar, you mastered details like finding fish in narrow ditches. I could follow a ditch no wider than my boat, catching fish while others caught nothing.
> "Sonar levels the playing field. It demands good eyes, hand-eye coordination and stamina – a young person's game.
> "I upgraded to a 16" screen to keep up as my eyesight fades. Mastering it is thrilling, even if it’s different."
Do crappies react to sonar frequencies or boat presence?
> "Absolutely. Fish react to sonar, boat pressure and shadows.... Certain noises, like dropping a phone, spook them instantly. Others, like a radio, don’t.
> "Some days a jig’s splash scares them, other days it doesn’t. Just when you think you’ve figured them out, they prove you wrong."
What electronics setup are you using?
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> "I use a Garmin 8616 – a game-changer compared to my old setups. I progressed from a 12-inch screen to a 1222, then an 8612, and finally the 8616 last year. I'm not sponsored by Garmin....
> "The clarity and detail are critical for spotting fish and placing my jighead precisely.
> "I use a 16' ACC Crappie Stix trolling rod for single-poling roamers on LiveScope, but it’s also great for casting. I can stay 30' back to avoid spooking fish.
> "In 20' of water, if a fish is suspended 8' deep and 40' out, I cast my jighead 5-10' past it. I use a heavier jighead to sink fast, working it back just above the fish.
> "You have a tiny window to align everything – wind, boat movement and fish movement complicate things. These fish are always swimming, not holding on structure, so efficiency is key.
> "Windy days make that 20-degree beam tough to perfect."
What about bait color in your area?
> "Before sonar, I used bright colors like orange and chartreuse in muddy water, thinking fish needed to see them.
> "Now, I use natural colors – 'monkey milk', 'gray' or 'shad' – 99.9% of the time. Sonar shows fish reactions so you know what works.
> "Surprisingly, color matters little since you’re placing the bait right on the fish's nose. Presentation is first, profile second, color a distant third."
Check out Tim's "Long Branch Guide Service" here.
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Here’s a good point about running down the lake...
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If you haven’t heard, there's been a couple tragic boat accidents the last couple weeks in bass fishing tournaments. But of course it’s not just tourney guys that are vulnerable to a boat accident.
Here's some good points to consider when it comes to running down a lake, from a deal by Frank Sargeant at The Outdoor Wire:
> One questionable element that has become standard in modern tournament bass boats is the obstructed view at the helm as a result of 2 big sonar/GPS screens mounted on the console.
> They not only obstruct the view, but their proximity to the line of sight tempts the driver to watch the chart as much as he watches the water ahead. At 60 or 70 mph, this can be extremely dangerous. At 70 the boat is traveling over 100 fps.
Bet you've seen folks do that – run with their eyes on the screen vs on the water. And shoot, we all see people doing it in cars and trucks which is nuts.
We've all been in boats where guys were running and focused on fiddling with the lake map or whatever. Not wrong, just how long and where you do that.
In other words, Frank has a great point about the bow units, and our 2c is it to not ignore "driver behavior" either.
And don't be afraid to yell at folks either. Some young'ns never got yelled at and they need it! 😆
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Maybe not wrong fish for us crappie guys (except a surprise 5-lb bass in the bottom liddle), but by the baits in those fish's mouths, I don't think these guys were hunting filets at the time! 😂
If you've got any weird accidental catches, let's see 'em!
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1. TX crappie are in full post-spawn mode
- Bois d’Arc: “Excellent” in timber, 10–20' at creek mouths.
- Cedar Creek: Fish are sliding back to the main lake, holding 3–10'.
- Cooper: “Excellent” in 5–15' on timber off the banks.
- Cypress Springs: “Excellent,” roaming 8–35' – classic post-spawn.
- Fork: Stacking on brush, ledges, underwater bridges and roadbeds in 14–25'.
2. MN: Lake Minnetonka Crappie Contest THIS WEEKEND
May 3, held at Lord Fletcher’s – rain or shine. Proceeds help military and first responders.
3. IA crappies are firing up all over
Big Hollow, Belva Deer, Lost Grove, Macbride and others heating up.
Also: Western IA crappies are colored up, spawn close. Try small jigs under bobbers set 2' down.
4. AL: 23 public lakes reopened
Includes Bibb Lake, which opened Apr 26 and has plenty of slabs.
5. FL: New rez will get Okeechobee water this summer
Caloosahatchee River Reservoir. Not sure if it will be fishable...?
6. CA: Camanche and Pardee ramps closed all summer
Invasive golden mussel concerns.
7. WI: New water access on St. Croix River
Includes 35 trailer spots and a double ramp – 1 of just 4 on the lower river.
8. Best crappie combos > $100
According to Outdoor Life:
Lew’s x Mr Crappie Crappie Thunder ($44.99)
Bass Pro Shops Crappie Maxx Quick Tip ($64.99)
Shakespeare Crappie Hunter ($59.99)
Mitchell AvoSlab ($49.99)
Pflueger Monarch ($59.99)
Bass Pro Shops Extreme STK ($49.99)
9. Cleanin’ crappies with the Rapala Lithium Fillet Knife
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Here's an interesting bit from The Crappie Connection's podcast with Whitey Outlaw talkin' how we fish new lakes vs our home ponds:
> "When you fish lakes you're familiar with, you’re a creature of habit. You’re going to go back to places you’ve caught them before or seen people win tournaments – and you overlook a lot of good stuff.
> "If you just hit a lake you’ve never been to before, you’d fish it differently....
> "The map is a good starting tool on any lake. It shows you stump fields, drops, fish attractors.
> "Today, with the technology we’ve got, we can catch fish just about anywhere...."
More often than not I (Brett) have seen this play out firsthand in my crappie and bass fishing. Couple suggestions: Fish your lake like a new lake and see what happens, or go hit a new body of water and see if your fresh eyes don't crack the code real fast!
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Throwback to this Lake Fork, TX 3.55-lb white crappie – the lake record at the time, not sure if it still is but either way WOW! 👀🤯
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