|
Couple quick deals:
1. Got some of the new Bobby Garland Baby Shad colors in, and they look SICK! I'm especially excited about 'wonder bread' and 'Lonestar shad'.
Any time I see a lure that's 'wonder bread', there's only one thing that goes through my head! π Shake n bake!
|
|
|
2. An east TX guide friend of mine, Kaden Proffitt, sent me this pic of his new humback freakaziod 2-08 PB white crappie. Check that thing out!
|
|
|
If your email program cuts off the bottom of the email click "View this email in your browser" up top to see the whole thing. Sorry about that β email programs keep changing stuff!
|
|
|
Find isolated fish this winter
|
|
|
That's what 2025 Crappie Master's National Champion Kayle Ward does this time of year! Here's more:
It's been a very mild, warm winter here in the South. How have you adjusted to the weird crappie behavior?
> "They were behind schedule to get out a little deeper this year. The shallower fish β 12-16' deep fish β they didn't know if it was winter or fall, and were getting harder to bite and target.
> "If I could find them out [deeper], it tended to be a little more consistent.
> "[As it got colder] black crappie started getting on deep structure. [But] when you could find them on deep structure, that wasn't the most obvious structure that everybody was targeting."
Kayle said the obvious stuff tends to get pounded this time of year because so many fish are on it, but they get finicky. When the black crappie get really beat up in the winter, Kayle looks for:
> "Isolated fish, stuff I can have to myself.
> "When the black crappie are biting, I'd rather chase them because they're schooled in the winter and they're kind of easy to pick at.
> "When that gets tough, I'd rather go chase a roaming white crappie. It's incredible quality...numerous fish a day over 2 lbs."
What kind of structure are you finding that doesn't get as much pressure?
> "Anybody with side scan or LiveScope is finding the giant schools β 50- 100+ fish. 20 boats are fishing the same stretches every day.
> "At Bois d'Arc [TX] there's timber, but most of [the black crappie] have migrated out of all that thick timber towards the dam in the deeper water.
> "[The good stuff is the] minimal cover out there. Big, isolated, random trees, big rockpiles β might be a little bluff or some big tree that floated out from a flood and sank.
> "Fish are really congregating on those kinds of spots [and] most of it's close to the creek channels."
|
|
|
For chasing big white crappie, what kind of areas are you looking for right now?
> "Deep creek channels, deep secondary ditches. That's where your consistent fish are going to be. They're on a full-blown winter pattern [now].
> "We're in our full suspended shad pattern. The shad schools are usually 10-16' deep, just a solid line of shad on your screen.
> "The [crappie] are either sitting on structure around the balls of shad, or they're sitting under them, feeding up for the spring, getting fat and sassy."
Follow-up: When should people actually start looking for pre-spawn and spawn patterns?
> "Typically we'll start seeing [pre-spawn] staging fish within the first week or 2 of Feb, even if it's cold. The spawn is about [that] length of day in my opinion.
> "2nd, 3rd week of Mar is when they'll really start spawning."
|
|
|
What gear are you using this time of year?
> "I'm running a 13' Power Crappie Trident or Patriot, mostly running the Patriot.
> "This time of year, I like to vibrate the bait. When you get to that stiffer tip, like the Trident, the harder you can actually shake it and create more vibration without the bait bouncing up and down.
> "When you have light bites [like with pressured fish or in the summer], you need that [Patriot] rod tip to be a little bit softer. You don't need as much of a hookset.
> "I'm [using]...12-lb fluorocarbon [and] strictly all jigs. "I've tried some minnows, but I feel like this is the time of year if he won't eat a jig, he won't eat a minnow.
> "I'm running a 3/8-oz tungsten weight about 1' above a 1/4-oz Guthrie Tackle Jighead.
> "I'm running big stuff this time of year. I'm running 2-inch baits β a Bobby Garland Slab Slayer. I'm [fishing] orange and chartreuse, pinks and chartreuse β big bright baits that move a little bit of water. I'm trying to make my bait stand out compared to all the shad that are swimming by.
> "This is a time of year when they are a little more lethargic. They're not going to put much effort into chasing anything. It's got to be on their nose β I want them to see it.
> "If you can get it on their nose and get them to react, it doesn't matter what you have down there, they're going to bite it. But it's got to be a reaction.
> "Most of these fish are going to start swimming off within 5 seconds.
> "With the boat being within 10' of them, you have to get a bait on them quick. The faster you can do that, the better. That's why the 1/4-oz jighead β need to get it to 'em quick."
|
|
Is the new Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 XL the best FFS yet? π€
|
|
|
Garmin LiveScope set a high bar, Humminbird MEGA Live 2 got close and now Lowrance is firing the first shot of the 2026 electronics wars! π
This info is coming from the BassBlaster email, but obviously applies to crappie too, and there's a little bit from me on how this could be a serious deal for crappie. Lowrances's new deal is called ActiveTarget 2 XL:ο»Ώ
ο»Ώο»Ώ
ο»Ώ> Not trying to hype anything because I honestly don't know, just at this point I'm expecting that each time one of the 3 electronics companies comes out with something, it'll be the best yet or dang close to it. Because it's a tech war....
> Equipment-wise, ActiveTarget 2 XL is a new transducer ($1,399), black box (tranny + black box = $1,799) and some new/updated software. Here's a little of what it does β first info from the Lowrance site, and then from a quick convo I had with Lowrance product director Sam Carlisle.
> With 180Β° views, ActiveTarget 2 XL is the worldβs clearest, most complete live sonar. Forward, Down, and Scout modes β all from a single transducer.
> A redesigned transducer lets you switch instantly between Forward XL and Down XL views from your display. No need to go fishing for your transducer. Just select your preferred view, and fish.
> "ActiveTarget 2 XL is a one and done upgrade, with all views available from a single transducer. Anglers can even use their existing ActiveTarget 2 sonar module [black box], reducing the amount of gear required. Simply mount the new XL transducer and cast."
|
|
|
Is it easier, harder or the same to make a cast at a fish that's a long ways from the boat?
> "I would say it's the same as what we had with AT2 to make that cast and to find your lure.
> "We've optimized the sonar returns to try to make sure it's easier to see the baits vs the structure. So you should be able to see your baits a little bit easier, but still making the precison casts you need to make.
> "And now with 180 degrees of view, you can make casts forward or backwards as you need. Your not limited to having to turn the trolling motor....
> "We're starting to see a growth where people are anchoring their motor and looking backwards. ...sometimes fish go under the boat and backwards, and now they can see that with a quick adjustment on the screen...."
[Hello? Crappie heading under the boat is an epidemic! They can't disappear now! π]
Is it just plug and play with whatever units a guy has?
> "The Elite FS β not the older TI series β HDS Carbon, HDS Live and HDS Pro.
> "...that Live 360...that an HDS Pro only feature because of the compute power that's required...."
Is there anything else we need to know?
> "...the new mount that comes with it...enables quick-switch views.
> "...instead of offering just our bolt-on 1-use type mount, we reengineered that mount and put one of those [aftermarket-style FFS mounts] in the box. So now...you don't have to go and buy an aftermarket accessory unless you want to.
> "You can go from Forward/Down Mode into Scout Mode with your hand. You don't need tools. It's just a latch and flip or two. So you can quickly go through those modes...makes it a lot easier."
Live 360!
Also, if you want to splurge on 2 AT2XL transducers and have at least one HDS Pro, you can get Live 180+180 = 360 β which is the first Live (no screen refresh) Live 360 ever offered.
We'll have to see if it beats, resolution-wise, Humminbird's MEGA 360.
My crappie 2c
Again, we're not trying to hype anything, but this is pretty neat. Seems "groundbreaking" if you wanna call it that, but more than anything, I'm just excited to see what kind of techniques folks come out with.
With the AT2XL specifically, we're going to get to see brushpiles, trees and any cover in a whole new way. You can adjust the focus of the beam on the screen, so you can imagine being able to see different parts of the brushpile that you're on top of without moving.
And like I noted earlier, with roaming fish and schools that shoot under the boat, now you essentially will never lose those fish. Less excuses when they don't bite now! π
Let's see who strikes next in the 2026 sonar wars!
|
|
|
This year, on a lake far, far away....
|
|
Crappie key in on contrast
|
|
|
Did you know crappie see colors way better than other fish like bass? Here's some real interesting info from a B'n'M post that give you a better idea of what crappie actually see:
> Crappie can see color exceptionally well because their eyes contain a high concentration of cone cells, allowing them to distinguish colors and contrast far better than most freshwater fish [red, green, blue β kinda like people].
> They're especially sensitive to bright wavelengths like chartreuse, pink and orange, colors that remain visible as light changes with depth, stain or time of day.
> Since crappie are low-light feeders at dawn and dusk, their vision is tuned to pick up color contrast even when visibility is poor.
> That means as sunlight, cloud cover or water depth shifts, what a crappie sees changes. So a bait that works one hour can completely disappear the next.
That makes me think of a few things:
1. What Kayle said in #1 above about using bright colors this time of year β which contrasts more vs the constant white/silver of all the baitfish.
2. Denser water in the winter = worse vision. If crappie, especially in muddy water, are already having a hard time seeing, let's give 'em something that contrasts with their environment. Give those lethargic fish every reason to eat!
|
|
|
#3 β On Lurenet.com, Bobby Garland has some cool/crazy-looking bright laminate Baby Shads that are bright and contrast with each other. From L to R: 'chartruese black pepper', 'baby crawdad', 'black gum', 'vegas', 'green tomato', 'blue grass'.
|
|
Plankton are a big key for night ice crappies π
|
|
|
Here's some SNEAKY crappie juice from Brett McComas over at Target Walleye, who has been on some serious slab x ice action:
> Deepwater crappies can often be found following the vertical migration of zooplankton. Increased light levels in the morning trigger zooplankton...to vacate areas higher in the water column and slide back towards the bottom. Itβs a similar situation towards evening.
> Maybe youβve noticed the bottom βlighting upβ on your flasher near dusk?
|
|
|
> Zooplankton will begin to rise off bottom as the light levels drop, and they feed on microscopic plant-like organisms called phytoplankton.
> Of course you can see it going on around the weeds, but soft-bottom basins in the 22-34β range are usually where the real magic happens.
> Thatβs why so often when fishing after-dark basin crappies, youβll see βem moseying through way up high in the water column. Sometimes theyβll bite, other times theyβll just slowly fade away and barely give your bait a sniff.
> If youβre using a little jigging spoon, you might see them slide up and go for the swivel just 12" above the bait. Or maybe youβre trying to trick βem with a plain hook and a crappie minnow, but instead they bite at your tiny splitshot up above the bait....
> ...an obvious clue that theyβre actually feeding on zooplankton and could care less about your little minnow-profile baits.
> Thatβs when itβs time to bust out the finesse stuff! Light line (no heavier than 3-lb) and ultra-finesse tungsten jigs are key for these filter-feeding crappies β because they have a compact profile yet are still fishable in deeper water.
> I like anything that is small yet comes to life underwater with subtle movements thanks to tentacles, appendages, hair, feathers, marabou, etc.
> Some examples of what Iβm talking about are baits like the VMC Tungsten Bullfly Jig, Eurotackle Strider Fly, Tungsten Roach Jig, or small tungsten jigs rigged with micro plastics like the Clam Maki, Jamei, Neki, etc.
|
|
|
What about this stuff for open water?
Other than looking for those basins at night (make sure your running lights are on!), are you throwing buggy lures around grass? If your lake has submerged grass, fish can be hanging out in that all year and are always looking for a buggy meal.
Even if your lake just has bank grass like gator grass or water willow, when those fish get up to spawn here before too long, they'll be chomping at all those bugs that are going to be active when the weather warms up!ο»Ώ
ο»Ώο»Ώ
ο»ΏDon't be scared to try out some new baits around grass like the Bobby Garland Mayflies, Great Lakes Finnesse Juicy Hellgrammite or even a smaller dice bait like a Z-Man Fuzzy Nuggetz β the body of it is only 0.5" long!
|
|
Always turn wide when trolling
|
|
|
Here's a good tip from this Crappie Connection post with Brad Chappell on how to keep your lines from getting tangled while you're trolling, and how to use those turns to put more fish in the boat:
> "Turning can be a challenge β you wanna make real wide turns. If I just spin this boat around quickly, we would have a tangled mess.
> "[To avoid that] I'm gonna make a real wide sweeping turn and target back where I've been fishing.
> "During the turn, I know my inside poles are going to be a little bit deeper. The outside poles are going to run shallower.
> "Right now [on the turn] if we get a bite on the [outside], that would tell me that the fish are...shallower in the water column than I've been pulling. I would need to pull these jigs higher up [and vice versa]."
|
|
|
Long pole or casting, I think we could all use a little bit of tangle-free tackle in our lives. π
That design they have prevents line wrap on the drop and also doubles as an aid for seeing it better on LiveScope.
Available in 1/8-oz (4-pack), 1/4-oz (3-pack), 3/8-oz (2-pack) and 1/2-oz (2-pack) sizes and MSRP $3.99. Check them out here on the BoneHead Website!
3. GA: Midday is the deal on the Satilla River
> "The bite has been really good...around 10:00 am, theyβve been starting to eat. Expect most of the fish to be holding in pockets out of the main run of the current...holding tight to submerged structure."
4. AR: Crappie bite is heating up on...
- Overcup:β¨Crappie biting very well from the bank and fishing piers, with fish reported in 10-12', holding about 6' down.
- Harris Brake:β¨"Decent-sized crappie were caughtβ both from boats and the bank, with boat fish near the bottom in about 7' and bank fish in 1-2'. Minnows working best, though jigs also caught fish.
- Little Maumelle River:β¨Crappie are doing really well, holding 8-9' deep in clear water, with jigs and minnows producing. Shad-colored Bobby Garland and tube jigs were mentioned.
- Ouachita:β¨Crappie have been really good, with some monster crappie, caught over brush and timber in 20-40', with fish often holding 20-35' down. Jigs and minnows both working, especially as water temps drop.
5. TX: Crappie bite on π₯ right now:
- Bob Sandlin: Crappie are excellent with jigs or minnows. Stay west of the Highway 21 Bridge and focus on timber in 30-50' of water.
- Lake O' the Pines: Crappie fishing is excellent this week. Fish are being found primarily in 20-25' on standing timber and brushpiles, with some fish roaming nearby.
- Fork: Lake Fork crappie fishing is nothing short of on fire right now...in 14-60' related to timber, brush, tires, bridges, ledges, and points.
- Ft. Phantom Hill: Crappie are stacking up on structures in 15-25'. The bite is good with minnows and jigs.
- Murvaul: Crappie are excellent on chartreuse and black crappie jigs on a split shot rig or live minnows.
- Nacogdoches: Crappie are excellent grouped up in standing timber with white or chartreuse crappie jigs.
- Cypress Springs: Crappie are excellent roaming midlake to the dam with jigs, but have some minnows just in case.
- Lake Houston: Crappie fishing is outstanding in the East Fork and Luces Bayou in 8-12' of water, tight to structure on minnows and small jigs.
- Belton: Fishing has been solid⦠in the mid-afternoon, from 2-4:30 p.m. The best depths have been 35-41'.
6. SC: Wateree River crappie setting up on current breaks
Crappie are setting up on the inside of river bends where debris piles create slack water. Minnows under a cork fished tight to wood are doing the trick.
7. Black crappie can filter zooplankton?
From Jason Mitchell Outdoors TV: Unlike white crappie, black crappie are able to filter zooplankton with their gill rakers. Truly a versatile predator that can consume everything from zooplankton, midge larvae and back-swimmers, to young of the year bluegills and other small fish.
Sounds like the juice in #4 just got bolstered. π
8. Save up to $200 on Fenwick rods on Tackle Warehouse right now
9. Monster Marine Lithium is in the big screen game
|
|
|
Crappie sit on riprap in cold water
Bassmaster Elite pro Brandon Lester was bank-fishing crappie in a recent YouTube video and keyed in on catching 'em off riprap!ο»Ώ
ο»Ώ
> "What happens is these rocks right here will actually hold heat as that water temperature starts falling...because the sun beats down on them.
> "Fish, especially crappie, love to lie down there next to those rocks β those rocks are actually warmer than the water temperature is.
> "Also, you'll see a lot of times they'll be on these [bridge] columns β same effect."
So if you're fishing from the bank or not, that riprap is definitely a place to check out β bridges, dams, levees around marinas, anything that'll hold heat!
|
|
|
"It starts with a $9 pack of worms. Next thing you know your garage looks like a Bass Pro aisle and you donβt remember buying any of it."
- From Fishhook Terry β ain't that the truth! In our case, it's more like a pack of Baby Shads or hand-tieds. π
|
|
|
Sign up another crappie-head!
If you're forwarding Target Crappie to a friend who loves to crappie fish or want your fishing buddies to get these emails, just send us their email addresses and we'll take care of it! (We won't sell the addresses, use them for spam, etc.)
|
|
|
FRIENDS OF TARGET CRAPPIE
|
|
|
|
