Beginner
Crappie & Panfish Basics
Rig a small jig below a float and locate fish around brush and docks.
Start small
Use a light outfit and a small jig with a tube, soft plastic or legal bait. Tie to the jig eye and thread the body straight, keeping the hook point clear. Heavy line and large hardware can reduce small-bait movement.
Choose accessible weed edges, docks and brush outside the thickest snags. Some fish may suspend rather than sit on bottom, so test more than one depth.
Set the float depth
Attach a suitable float above the jig and adjust the distance to place the bait at or slightly above fish. Begin shallow, then lower it gradually if there are no bites.
A float that slowly slides sideways or dips can signal a bite. Reel up slack and lift smoothly; tiny hooks do not need an aggressive hookset. Alternate small twitches with still pauses.
Handle and harvest responsibly
Wet hands and support fish without squeezing them. Use small pliers for hooks and avoid sharp fin spines.
Check daily limits and local minimum sizes. Keep fish you intend to eat in suitable cold storage, and release unwanted fish promptly rather than holding them for photographs.
Advanced · Crappie & panfish
Crappie: Suspended Fish & Fine Control →Need gear for this?