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Hey y'all! Tons of black crappie juice in this one and plenty of hammers to learn from. Soak it in and go catch 'em!
Went to my first Grizzly Jig Show in MO this past weekend and had a great time seeing crappie fishing's best in the world's biggest crappie tackle shop! π Pretty cool deal and I really appreciate what Wade Mansfield, owner of Grizzly Jigs, is doing for the crappie world!
Thank you to the folks who saw me out there and said hey! We appreciate ya!
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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!
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Hall and Box take the W on Talquin!
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Alex Hall (L) and Cassidy Box (R) took home the W in the first Crappie Masters event of the year on Lake Talquin, FL. Won it by just 0.39-lb! π¬Tight weights for those black crappie!
Got with Alex to for the winning deets and also got some black crappie π§.
What pattern did y'all run to stay on the biggest fish?
> "Seemed like the bigger fish were holding on the edges of the [main] river channel, where the main creek channels met the river channel.
> "It was pretty consistent through the week. Those fish were getting ready to spawn β some moved down the lake throughout the week."
Was there a certain cover or bait presence on those river-channel spots that mattered most?
> "It seemed like the only difference we saw was the [channel] edges. If there was bait there, those fish were there.
> "The bait seemed to be holding tighter to the bottom, but it seemed like those edges of the mouth of the creek channel were really holding the fish.
> "The 1st day all of our bigger fish were single fish. Day 2 we caught our bigger fish out of schools."
What did y'all do to keep yourselves around those bigger fish?
> "We were just covering as much water as we could [on the trolling motor] and casting to every fish we thought was a big fish.
> "We would probably only catch 2-3% of our fish. At the end of each day, we'd be sore from casting.
> "Those fish that had a lot of pressure between the pre-fishing and a tournament the week before. You had to really stay back off of them.
> "If you ever spook the fish or spook the school, you might as well leave and go to the next one. It's pretty much just covering water."
How were you having to position yourselves off the schools and single fish?
> "You wanted to sit off of them at least 40' [away]. I keep my LiveScope [forward range] on 100'. When I saw those fish, I backed it down to 50'."
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Did you manipulate your bait in any way to trigger bites?
> "You wanted to keep it above them a good bit β at least 2-3' above them.
> "Once they see that bait, just reel it away from 'em, just a good steady reel.
> "It seemed like time of day was a big thing for us. Both days we caught all of our tournament fish between 1:00 and 2:00. [The bite] was pretty much dead up until then."
Do you use side scan or cover water on the trolling motor to search for fish?
> "We pretty much just cover a lot of water on the trolling motor.
> "Prefishin, we were seeing the big fish but it was a challenge to get on the bite. Same thing during the tournament."
Do you have any gear that plays a big role in your day-to-day fishing?
> "...[the win] had a lot to do with not using brakes. Crappie Brakes are a big thing now, but what we're seeing is, if you saw that fish or at school a distance and you try to use brakes, those fish were gone.
> "I've still got the old [Power-Pole] Drift Paddles on the back of my boat [and] I'd kind of do it like we used to before Crappie Brakes: Once I saw that fish at a distance, I would drop [the paddles] in the water and let them bring me to a stop.
> "I never used my brakes [in the tournament]. I think these fish get a lot of pressure. They're getting conditioned to these brakes.
> "I keep the paddles just an inch above the water on the poles and wear a [lanyard] with the [Power-Pole] remote in my hand. After that, I don't touch the trolling motor on the front. I don't touch the brakes."
Alex runs a Garmin 8616 with an LVS 34 transducer. For the trolling motor, he's running a Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST and said he loves the power it has.
His casting setup:
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How to get those picky black crappie to bite
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I had the pleasure of meeting Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing Guide Service at the Grizzly Jigs Show. Eric mainly guides out of Lake Maumelle, AR, which is full of clear water, so he's dialed in how to get picky black crappie to bite. Here's 5 Qs with him:
1. What adjustments do you make to keep catching those finicky fish?
> "One of the biggest things is understanding the depth that we're having to work in β having enough weight on to get the bait down deep, but also still maintain control of the bait.
> "Through these winter months, our fish are...anywhere from 30-40' deep. Even at that depth, those fish don't really care for you to be right on top of them β we're still working them from a distance.
> "The way I think of it, it's a it's kind of a vertical presentation from a distance.
> "I rig all my rods so that I can get down to whatever depth range I want, causing that bait to suspend above those fish and move slowly enough at depth to get a slow methodical presentation...."
2. What baits do you favor for those deeper groups of fish?
> "I generally use larger baits β the [full size] Bobby Garland Slab Hunt'R right now is my go-to. Some days, when they're not responding to that, I may downsize all the way to an Itty Bit Slab Hunt'R.
> "[A big key is] understanding that those fish are cold. They may be a little lethargic, they may want a big meal that gives them more bang for their buck."
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3. What are you doing with your gear to give you that "vertical presentation from a distance"?
> "I typically use an 8' ACC Crappie Stix Spinnin' Stix, and I line my 2000-size reels with 10-lb braid. I'll tie a 6-8' leader of either mono or copolymer β this time of year, I prefer 4-lb [to get to depth faster].
> "On that leader line, we're running 1/4-oz tungsten weights 16-18 inches up above a 1/16- or 1/8-oz tungsten jighead."
4. What are you doing with that setup to trigger bites?
> "Most of the time I'm looking for a slow pendulum. We really 'float' that bait right above those fish in most cases.
> "Once we see the fish turning and reacting to the bait, it's time to get away.
> "I always think of my artificial bait as live bait. Live bait is never going to sit in front of a predator and say 'eat me' β it's always going to try to get away."
So like a keep-away game?
> "Exactly. As they start coming after it, I want to take it away from them."
5. What are some mistakes people make when they're fishing for black crappie?
> "Over-casting. If our fish are sitting 30' in front of us and we [cast] 50' β now we've got to make up 20' of distance and drop down another 20-30' to get on target.
> "By the time that happens, the boat's out of position or the fish have moved.
> "The second one would be when we get the bait down to the fish, we get so distracted by LiveScope that we let the bait just sit there.
> "People drop the rod tip down, which causes the bait to drop down too deep, or make some type of movement with the rod that is not natural to what those fish are used to seeing.
> "Also, getting a little too herky jerky with it or reeling the bait away from the fish too fast or too slow."
Bonus Q: What types of areas/cover are you fishing right now?
> "This time of year I'm generally not looking for big piles of fish. Typically, those bigger piles and schools of fish are going to be a little bit smaller fish β 6-10 inchers. 11 inches and up is what I'm really shooting for.
> "To find those fish, I am typically looking for isolated cover β individual stumps or small brushpiles, little bitty targets, [single] roaming fish that are out on the prowl.
> "I want to look for areas that have bait...but, I want to look for areas that don't have tons and tons of bait. If I pull into an area and there's bait filling my screen on down, side or forward-facing, I generally want to steer away from that area.
> "There's a lot of competition there. I generally don't want to have that battle. So I like to look for areas that have smaller bait balls or maybe even no bait at all around them."
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Had the pleasure of meeting who a lot of folks say is the best black crappie fisherman out there right now, AL's Eric Cagle. Eric guides in AL and MS, and is the guy behind the Dobyns E.C. Special Rod β you know, EC = Eric Cagle...π
Talked to Eric about how he designed that rod to be ultra-dialed for crappie, and the kind of setup he's running.
What was the thought behind the design of the E.C. action?
> "We fish both black and white crappie, but this rod was designed specifically for black crappies' soft bite.
> "It's a M, ML action rod with a double-fast action tip. The tip is very important on this rod for catching those finicky black fish.
> "The reason for that double-fast action tip is when that fish bites it, he will pull the tip down before you ever feel it.
> "It's been tested to the max. We just got back from CA this past week, catching huge black crappie β [the E.C. Special] is the only rod we took with us."
How important is it to pair the right line with that rod for black crappie?
> "Very important. I've tried about every line on the market. Everybody who knows me knows that in the last 6 years, I have used K9 High-Vis Fluoro. I use 6-lb most of the time. I will go to 4-lb if I have to.
> "The thing that's funny to me is everybody thinks you can't use high-vis line in clear water. Well that's all I've fished my whole life. I won tournaments on the clearest lakes in the country using 6-lb high-vis fluoro.
> "It's fluoro, it has zero memory β that's why I use it. I never have to worry about that line knotting or kinking on me. It's just hassle-free.
> "...if you haven't tried this Dobyns rod, the E.C. 600 or 700, paired with a 1000-[size] spinning reel and 6-lb K9 High-Vis Fluoro β if you're casting crappie, you need to give that combination a try. You will not regret it, I promise you."
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Run and gun for ice slabs!
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Ice guys! Don't underestimate how fast groups of slabs move around down there! If the weather permits, playing that run-and-gun game can make all the difference in how many fish you take home.
Here's some π§ from a cool Rapala YouTube vid with Tony Roach talkin' the importance of using the right gear and staying mobile for crappie while he's out on Upper Red Lake:
> "Often when we see them on FFS, weβre trying to get ahead of them.
> "When youβre fishing Red Lake crappies, speed and mobility are key. Thatβs why Iβm fishing this...heavy tungsten [VMC Torpedo Jig] to get down there fast.
> "You want to get on top of these fish as quickly as possible. Weβre literally towing the FFS around in an Otter sled. The [Strikemaster] Maven is ideal for drilling quick holes because youβve got to punch on top of these fish, get down there quickly, catch 'em and move on.
> "Youβve got to have the right setup, a fast auger, plenty of batteries, and youβve got to pack light and move efficiently.
> "Weβve been running these stretches, sometimes 100-200 yards away from the [Polaris] Ranger, drilling holes and looking in every direction until we land on these big schools.
> "You almost have to predict the rate of speed theyβre traveling. Sometimes, if you see them out at 40' youβve got to get 50-60' ahead of them and anticipate where theyβre going to be.
> "Itβs less like fishing and more like hunting.... Weβre just running them down. Youβve just got to stay right on top of them.
> "I'm fishing the Torpedo [Spoon]. No bait. Just dropping that thing down as fast as I possibly can, and smacking big crappies."
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A couple new black crappie candies
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Not a ton of new releases at the Grizzly Show that I was able to see, but there were a couple of cool new baits that struck me as being some sick black crappie baits. Here they are!
Crappie Monster Ghost Series
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Seems like the Ghost Series baits are made out of TPE β same/similar stuff as Z-Man plastics. They're a floating plastic and stretch. TX guide Jordan 'Mr Find the Fish' Sanders on 'em:
> "These are a new bait, really durable. They extend out to 16 inches long. You will not break them.
> "The key thing to these is, when you're casting to a fish, they have a core shot in them. You can put them on a 1/8-oz jighead, and they're going to fall and suspend like a 1/16-oz.
> "We have 6 colors right now, with more colors on the way."
Pitcured colors L-R are: 'g-wiz', 'g-bang', 'g-money', 'g-daddy', 'pink', 'g-gansta', 'gs kit'.
Check 'em out here at othfishing.com!
Thermocline Lures 2" Slab Bug
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Cool little deal that resembles something you'd see the ultra-finesse bassin' guys throwing. It's made to resemble a crawfish or any type of bug...looks like it might be good for the spawn and dock-shooting.
Here's 2025 OK state champ Robert Bain at the Grizzly Show talkin' the Slab Bug:ο»Ώ
ο»Ώο»Ώ
ο»Ώ> "It's got some ribs with some little arms coming off the split tail. It's almost like paddletail, but it's split β it's got all kinds of action.
> "You hang them up above the fish, and it'll just sit there and just flutter.
> "It reminds me of a crawdad the way the pinchers go back and flutter."
If you're fishing around timber or especially fishing around grass/ weeds, you might want to check it out.
Looks like it's so new that it isn't on the Thermocline website yet, but no doubt coming soon.
New Bobby Garland Baby Shad Colors
The Grizzly Show had more Bobby Garland stuff than you could imagine, and the new colors look SICK in person! Here they are if you haven't got your hands on some yet:
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L-R: 'wonder bread' [should probably just call it Ricky Bobby then π], 'sonar beam' 'lonestar shad', 'cloudy daze', 'splatter', 'emerald fry', 'almond milk', 'slab juice', 'frosty', 'outbreak', 'moonbug', 'thump', 'wanted monkey'.
Lurenet.com has 'em!
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BaitFuel Fuse Gel is a water-based attractant that sticks to soft and hard baits up to 10x longer than the original formula in the bottle. Slowly releasing BaitFuelβs scent to mimic real prey, trigger more strikes, and increase hold time with fewer reapplications.
Comes in a tube you can easily throw in your pocket or the cupholders in your rig!
2. Big season opener sale from Minn Kota and Humminbird! π
Too much for here but here are the Minn Kota details (click the pic π):
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And here are the Humminbird details (click the pic π):
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Lots of southern guys have been or are still hanging out over there latley and catching tons of 3-lbers. Would you make a 30-hour 1-way trip to chase some giant black crappie?? π€
7. TX: Crappie bite going down on...
> Bob Sandlin: Crappie will be deep, then suspend higher in the water column on bright and sunny days. The best bite will be on minnows or tiny ice jigs. [Yep they work in open water too!]
> Fork: Lake Fork crappie fishing is in a full winter pattern, and fishing is great. Lots of fish stacked up on deep main lake timber in 35-60'.
> Conroe: Crappie have been productive in 15-24' around structure, with minnows and hair jigs outperforming plastics lately, though many bites have been very light.
8. LA: The deal on Lake Arthur is...
...fishing a black/chartreuse hair jig about 1' under a cork or tightlining a βmonkey milkβ Bobby Garland Baby Shad around cypress knees, canal mouths, and fresh laydowns in 2-5' of water when fish move shallow.
9. Spend Valentine's Day fishing a derb?
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The Whitney Point Sportsmen's Club is hosting the Crappie Derby 2026 on Sat, Feb 14, at Dorchester Park, Whitney Point, NY, giving anglers a winter-friendly way to spend Valentineβs Day on the ice.
10. Check out the Pole-Saver from PFE
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Get the fish looking away from you
That's what Grenada, MS guide Jamison Carr would tell you if you asked him how you should set up on roaming fish. Here's more on that from Jamison:ο»Ώ
ο»Ώο»Ώ
ο»Ώ> "Try to watch which way his head is pointing.
> "Get your boat positioned to where you approach the fish from behind, not in front of him or beside him. ...come behind the fish and follow him so he's not swimming right or left or coming to the boat. You want him facing away from you."ο»Ώ
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"A lot of people wonder why we're so successful fishing for crappie this time of year. I'm telling you guys, we smell these fish."
- That's FL panfish guide Brandon Scott talkin' finding crappie beds by smelling that fishy smell from all those males hanging around. So keep that nose up this spring! π
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