Old School Crappie Fishing Family Secrets

The Crappie’s Fishing Basics

Crappie are found all over the United States From the east cost all the way to California, from southern Canada, To Florida and just about any other place there is a lake river or stream. This fish species is one of the best to target if you are a beginning fisherman. If you have young children who are interested in trying the sport of fishing than taking them crappie fishing would be the best way to perk their interest.

Fishing for crappies is really a very in-expensive way to get into the sport of fishing and even beginners will catch fish. Here’s a small list of fishing equipment you will need. Get yourself a cane pole that is over 10ft long, some 3 to 4 lb test line, some crappie hooks, and a small bobber. All these items can be found at most bait shops and at any department store. Many times when you purchase the cane pole these items will already bee rigged up for you. Amazingly all these items can be purchased for under 25$. Now you can spend a lot more and you will if you really get interested in the sport, but if you just want to try crappie fishing the cane pole option is the way to go.

No mater if you spend just 25$ or if you go out and buy a more elaborate fishing outfit you still need to know some basic facts about the crappie species of fish to catch them. I would suggest you do just little research on the crappie species so you have an idea of where they are typically located and to find out when the best time to catch them. I would suggest while you are getting your crappies live bait at the local bait shop that you ask a few questions as to where the fish are biting.

You also need to know what they look like. For instance, if you are new to fishing for this species you need to know that the there are two types of crappie. The two species of crappie are the black (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and the white (Pomoxis annularis). Both these fish are found only in North America, and they belong to the sunfish family (Centrarchidae).The sunfish family also includes such fish as the largemouth bass, bluegills, and other warm water game fish. These fish have been stocked very heavily for the East Coast to the West Coast and from southern Ontario into Mexico and Now Panama and they can be found anywhere there is a lake a stream or rivers. Crappie fishing basics will work for both the white and the black crappies. Here’s a few identification tips: Black crappie tend to be a shade darker then their sister white crappie. And they have a irregular pattern of spots on their bodies. The lighter colored white crappie will have a distinct vertical pattern of spots on their bodies. But the easiest way to distinguish between the two is to count the number the number of dorsal fin spines. Black’s have seven to 8 spines while White’s have five or six. Black crappie thrive better in colder, clear water and can be found as far north as I said in the first paragraph in southern Canada. White crappie seem to like large lakes, and slow moving rivers of the south. Both these fish can be found any where in the lower 48 states and many time are found living together and yes they do cross breed.

The crappie’s size will depend totally on it’s local environment, and there size will cycle over time, but on the average you can expect to catch fish from 1/2l to 1lb each. If you stick to some simple crappie fishing basic tips you may catch some fish in the 2lb plus range. {A record white crappie was caught in Enid Lake Mississippi and weighed in at 5lb 2onces. The largest white crappie on record was caught in Enid Lake Mississippi, and was recorded to be 5lb and 2 ounces.} There is a tie for the record black crappie, a 4lb 8once black was caught at both Kerr Lake Virginia and Otoe Lake Nebraska.

The crappie’s food supply is made up mainly of crappie minnows , insects and small crustaceans. The young fish will feed primarily on the small crustaceans and insects while the larger adults diet consists mainly on small fish. Studies have been conducted on the both the white and black adult crappies and it seems that the black will feed a great deal on insects in the spring and switch to small fish such as minnows throughout the rest of the year. The adult white’s primary meal is small fish such as minnows throughout the year.

Just remember when your fishing for the crappies to have fun! If you stick to some crappie fishing basics there’s a good chance you will come away with a basic full of good eating fish, so GOOD LUCK!

Mark Fleagle is an Expert Author At Ezinearticles.com. and has over 30 years of fishing experience who has written 100’s of useful fishing articles. Would you like to max out your catch on your next fishing trip? Blow your fishing buddies out of the water and get your bragging rights today! Also don’t forget to get your free copy of “78 Fishing Discoveries Unleashed” http://www.oldfishinghole.com

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