Bass game delayed by Crappie

The black crappie is a species that tastes so good people may not stop and look at how spectacular it can be in regards to color as well as fin placement. In the panfish category for Colorado the crappie species is as close to tropical as a Mattabsasser gets in this mountain desert.

 

 

A few weeks ago I was bass fishing and rolled on top of a large section of trees that had been pushed into the water. This was done purposely to create a thick wood structure for baitfish and smaller organisms to seek shelter. A small tap on the bass rig and a flash of white below the water’s surface was a sure indication of crappie in the area. A quick downsize switch up and I was banging a few wannabe slabs.

My favorite rig for crappie is a mister twister 1/8oz jig. In heavy cover I may work a 1-2” grub weightless and hope the fish doesn’t hang me up in the junk on a deep hookset. White, black and chartreuse are three colors I try to keep on hand in one box with jig heads and grubs in various sizes.

Crappie can reproduce in great numbers with each female laying 5,000-15,000 eggs per spawn. Depending on temperatures and region the crappie can spawn several times a year. In Colorado most lakes receive at least one healthy spawn of crappie where populations are viable.

In lakes or ponds with a healthy crappie population throwing lures with a combination of white and black can bring out some of the healthier fish that binge feed on crappie from time to time. My best fishing days are often the ones where I can get into some big fish and feed my panfish addiction as well.

My name is Matt and I’m a fishaholic.