Crappies are part of the sunfish family and one of the most sought after species of fish around. There are two types of crappie called the white and black crappie. One reason they are popular is because they are so good to eat.
Another reason is because they are one of the easiest species to catch when you are first starting out learning how to fish. To become a successful crappie fisherman you need to learn as much as you can about them as a species. This will include their feeding habits, natural habitat and how the different seasons affect the crappie.
The mouth of the crappie is small and very fragile but they can still quickly suck up a minnow close by. It is very important that you learn how to set the hook without tearing the mouth of the crappie since they are so fragile. Not only will tearing their mouth cause you to lose the catch but it can also create unnecessary damage to the fish.
One thing that many new anglers don't realize is that crappies can see different colors very well. The colors are distorted by the different depths of the water and the amount of light shining through the water. Therefore, it does take some experimenting to determine which color works the best in different conditions.
All about Baits, Lures and Colors
When crappies are young they feed on insects but as they grow they add baitfish to their diet. Their favorite food is minnows but they will eat crustaceans, crickets, maggots, grasshoppers, worms and even smaller baitfish.
The artificial lures that work the best or jigs but spinnerbaits, streamers and small poppers can get you some great results as well. When using lures it is important to know a little about colors and how the crappies respond to them.
The crappie can also be a little unpredictable at times. They may not touch a particular color that they were all over earlier. This is why it is so important that you have a variety of lures and jigs with you each time you go out. It allows you to switch off and try something new when one thing is not working.
Understanding how the colors work as they go deeper into the water will help you determine which ones you should use depending on where and when you are fishing.
Water takes on a green color as it begins to get deep but the further down you go it starts to turn a more bluish color. It is for this reason that you should follow a certain pattern as you start going down into the depths of the water.
Start with red lures in shallow water followed by orange, yellow, green and blue or black as you get into the deepest water. White is normally a good neutral color that can be seen at most any depth.
Since you can't always tell the level of light present in the water one basic rule to follow is in bright light and clear water use the red, orange, green, blue and white colors.
In dark waters and when it is night or cloudy the pink, chartreuse, yellow, light blue and even black are the best choices.
Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best crappie fishing information possible. Get more information on crappie fishing here: http://www.askcrappiefishing.com/
