09/05/2026
I've been having a BLAST catching crappies lately! I've spent a lot of time actually looking for these fish, and I'm honestly amazed at just how many crappies are out there that everyone is driving right over every single day!
Here's how I'm finding them:
🔎 FINDING THE RIGHT AREAS
I start by scanning areas that look promising. I use my map to locate subtle transitions and then go over them with Side Imaging looking for the right kind of trees.
Trees like the one pictured in deeper water, along with trees laying down with full branches in anything under about 12 FOW, have been some of the best.
There are THOUSANDS of standing trees that look like telephone poles scattered all over the lake. Most of those aren't worth spending much time on unless you find a really thick patch where the trees are standing within just a few feet of each other.
The interesting thing about those pole trees is that the crappies usually aren't glued to one individual tree. They're generally deeper and moving around more. BUT...some of the biggest fish I've found have come out of those thick pole-tree stands, so they're definitely worth checking!
📡 SIDE IMAGING
When I'm looking for these fish with Side Imaging, I'll usually scan 70–90 feet to each side in anything over about 18 FOW.
In shallower water, I'll normally stay around 60–70 feet to each side.
Fish that are hanging lower in the water column tend to show up much better. When they're suspended higher, you may have to really pay attention because they'll show up as tiny little black specks way out toward the edge of your screen.
Once I locate an area holding crappies, that's when I'll drop the FFS and really start dissecting it.
That's when I can figure out whether the fish are sitting right in the tops of the trees, suspended along the trunks, or down closer to the bottom.
🎣 WHAT I'M USING
When I'm targeting these fish, I go SMALL with my presentations.
I'm generally using 1/32–1/8 oz jigs, with 1/16 oz being my go-to. The 1/16 is absolutely money when conditions allow, but a little wind or current can make it tricky.
I really like the VMC Hooks Mooneye Jigs because they hold plastics extremely well.
If I'm casting directly into brush piles, I'll switch to the same size jig but go with a weedless style that has the plastic bristles. I'll trim those bristles down so they're just about even with the point of the hook.
I'll dress those jigs with all kinds of different plastics and colors. Some days I'll also go old school with small fatheads or even red worms.
🎯 MY PITCHING SETUP
For pitching these little jigs, I absolutely love the St. Croix Rods Panfish Series 6'4" Light.
I pair it with a Piscifun Viper X 1000-series reel, spooled with 6 lb Sufix Lines 832 braid and about 4 feet of 4–6 lb mono leader, tied directly to the braid.
It's an incredibly fun setup for these fish, and when you stick a good crappie on light tackle...well, that's when you remember why we do this. 😂
There are WAY more crappies out there than most people realize. You just have to stop driving over them and start looking for them!
