During the spring crappie fishing is one of my favorite pastimes. When they’re getting ready to spawn they invade the shallows and make a quick meal. When they’re biting they often come in bunches, but there really easy to scare. When they just start biting, you’re going to have to come up with another solution. Catching crappie in the shallows doesn’t have to be difficult. With the help of a basic jig and bobber set up you can catch more shallow water crappie.
Bobber Fishing For Shallow Water Crappie
There are very few lures that work better than a jig when fishing the shallows for crappie. You’ll a few different setups to choose from, but I tend to go with the jig, bobber and live minnow combo. Crappie Fishing With Live minnows has proven itself time and time again. You can easily catch a ton of minnows and easily keep them alive. I like to take a small tiny jig and tail hook the minnow, so that it can be Close to the bottom. Then I’ll simply use a spring bobber like the Eagle Claw Balsa Style Bobber and clip at about a foot above my jig. In windy conditions you want to use a narrow bobber so that it won’t blow through the water.
How To Setup and Fish a Jig and Bobber 
After you got your jig and bobber set up you’re going to want to take it in fish close to any weed patches. The jig will take the minnow down to the bottom and the tail hook means it will just struggle in place. You can take the bobber right up to the weed bad and just let it sit there.
When I’m fishing for panfish like crappie and bluegill I like to use the neon moon eye jigs made by VMC Corporation. The little ultraviolet jigs really catch daylight in the shallows. You can also try hook and split shot, but you’ll have to worry about the minnow tangling the line. As they go through the weeds with a hook they’ll get stuck and cause an unnatural movement. You’ll be able to spend more time fishing and less time screwing around with the weeds.
Signs of Shallow Water Crappie
It really is tough to find the right time to fish the shallows for crappie. Throughout the spring they’re going to migrate back and forth from the deep to the shallows. As crappie react to inclement weather they’ll go back out to the deep water. It’s only after the weather finally settles that they permanently rest in their spawning beds.
The best way to find spring crappie is to fish the warm spells. The best fishing is usually going to happen right at the end of warm periods. Whenever you see a cold front approaching you should definitely start looking for hunger crappie. During the cold fronts crappie are going to migrate to deeper water and hold near structure. When the weather remain sunny for a few days they’ll slowly start to migrate back into the shallows.
How To Fish Cover for Panfish
For some reason people feel the need to use a light line when fishing for panfish. In reality I’m looking for a big crappie, bluegill or bass some to want something that will be able to get that fish out of there. What I normally use is a 6 pound diameter braided line like the Sufix Nanobraid with a longer rod and a fast tip. You’ll be able to flip that jig out there and not have to worry about working through the weeds. If you hook up on a fish you won’t have to worry about breaking the line caught in the weeds. You’ll be able to get the jig up and out of their with heavier gear.
Stealthy Anglers Catch More Crappie
To catch crappie in the shallows you’re going to need to be stealthy. When crappie are in their beds they’re notoriously skittish will swim off at the slightest movement. You can’t just roll up and hope to pull in a ton of fish. Scaring them off means you have to wait 15 to 20 minutes for them to return. In heavily trafficked lakes that means you’re going to have to use a marker buoyand hope no one steals your spot. You can also mark your spot with a small piece of yarn tied to a branch or piece of grass.
Kill Your Motor To Avoid Scaring Crappie
If you’re fishing with a small motor make sure you cut it off before coming up on the shallows. Stop 20 to 30 yards up water and slowly drift into position. Use the current to your advantage and let it pull your jig across the weeds. If the lake isn’t heavily fished you can use a small trolling motor to cover a little ground.
IF Fish are Scared Don’t Weight Your Bait
If you’re quickly scaring away fish you need to change things up. The easiest way to change things up is to get rid of your weight and use a simple live minnow rig. With the right set up you should be able to cast a decent distance. Without a weight the minnow will struggle near the surface and slowly drop down. If that doesn’t work consider cutting your minnow up and just using a small chunk. The reduction of movement and increase scent could be just what the crappie are looking for.