Crappie Fishing Basics Simple Steps To Crappies Catching Success!

By: Mark Fleagle
Old School Crappie Fishing Family Secrets
Crappie 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.

The crappie’s numbers are abundant and the action is good. To start fishing for crappie is really inexpensive. Basically all you need is a cane pole 10ft plus in length, with a line hook and a bobber. All these items can be purchased for under 25$ . Of course if you get really interested in crappie fishing you will need to invest in some better equipment, but why bother until you get the fishing bug.

You will still need to learn some basic facts about this fish before you attempt to go fishing. You need to do a little bit of reading so you know what there typical habitat is so you know where to find them. You need to know what there favorite foods are so you know what crappie live baits to purchase.
Get on the internet and do some simple crappie anatomy research , for example you probably did not know that the crappies eyes can not move in a position to look downward, so therefore if you bait is below them they will never see it. Also you need to know there are two types of these fish. Both species of crappie are from the sunfish family (Pomoxis annularis) and are located in North America and can live in harmony together. There is the black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and the white crappie (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. No need to worry to make special preparations to catch either the black or the white, the same crappie fishing basics will work well on either of them. Here’s a few identification tips: As a rule of thumb, black crappie are darker as the name indicates, with a irregular pattern of spots on there bodies. The lighter colored white crappie will have a distinct vertical pattern of spots on their bodies. Here’s another way of identifying the two crappies. Count the number of splines on the dorsal fin. If the count is between 7 and 8 the fish is a black crappie, if the count is between 5 and 6 then you have a white crappie. 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.The whites seem to like large lakes and slow moving rivers like in the south. To be honest through there Is no real separation because these fish can be found together in all the lower 48 states and into Mexico. And they do cross breed so there are a lot of cross breeds.
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. The largest black on record is 4 lb 8 ounces caught in Kerr Lake Virginia and Otoe Lake Nebraska.
Crappies feed on small fish, like your typical crappie fishing minnow and small aquatic insects and tiny crustaceans. before the crappie reaches adulthood they will feed primarily on small crustaceans and insects , while after they reach adulthood there diet will change to larger small fish like minnows. 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.
Well that concluded my article on crappie fishing basics, Just have fun and relax, that what fishing is all about! Good Luck On your next outing!
About the Author
Mark Fleagle Webmaster. 30+ Years Of Fishing Experience Expert Author At Ezinearticles.com. Click This Link To Find Out More About Crappie Fishing Basics

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see my previous post:
Know How To Handle A Rod And Where The Fish Are