The best baits for crappie are those that closely resemble what crappie actually eat. Obvious, right? They eat all sorts of things, but a crappie’s diet primarily consists of small fish such as minnows, shad, and tiny bluegill. So, that’s what you want to mimic when trying to catch crappie. Following are the 3 baits that I typically use to do that.
- Jigs
- Minnows
- Jig tipped with a minnow
Crappie Fishing With Jigs
Jigs are the quintessential crappie bait. They are the king of spring crappie fishing. Really, any time the crappie bite is good, some jig configuration is typically your best bet.
Crappie jigs are especially effective during the spawn when fish are shallow. Crappie are very aggressive during this time, and will hit almost anything. Minnows will often just slow you down during a hot bite. That doesn’t mean jigs aren’t good baits the rest of the year, because they are. However, at times when the bite is more sluggish, that’s when minnows start coming into the picture for me.
3 Different Types Of Crappie Jigs
Part of what makes jigs so great is that there are different styles to match almost any condition you might encounter. For example, a Bobby Garland Strollr can be used if you need extra vibration for muddy water fishing. And, you can use a paddle tail for effective casting and retrieving.
Without getting too deep into the weeds about specific styles, I’ll discuss the three broad types of crappie jigs listed below, which are hollow body tubes, solid body tubes, and feather, or hair jigs..
- Hollow Body Crappie Tubes
- Solid Body Plastic Baits
- Feather or Hair Jigs
Hollow Body Crappie Tubes
One of the most popular crappie jig styles of all time is the hollow body tube. This seemingly do-nothing lure is widely used for a reason – they slay the crappie.
One nice benefit of crappie tubes is that they give you a hollow cavity in which you can insert scents. I like to stuff this cavity with Berkley Powerbait Crappie Nibbles. This way, I’m not having to replace scent every time my jig is bumped by a fish. A couple disadvantages of tubes are that they don’t last as long as solid body jigs, and they are worse about pulling down on the hook.
Solid Body Plastic Baits
There really isn’t a huge difference in the catch rate between solid body crappie jigs and hollow crappie tubes. So, unless you’re going to use some type of scent, I’d lean toward a solid body jig.
Solid body crappie jigs also skip under docks better, if you’re into that sort of thing.
With all that said, I use hollow tubes more often because of the following reason. I really like to spider rig (slow troll), so I have 6 jigs in the water at once. And, where I fish, Crappie Nibbles seem to be really effective. With 6 poles, it’s a pain to keep a crappie nibble on all those hooks at all times. The solution is to inject nibbles into hollow body tubes. When you do that, the scent stays with the jig for a long time, and through many caught fish.
Feather Or Hair Jigs
Hair jigs are more durable and last longer than plastics. With hair jigs you also won’t have the hassle of the jig body sliding down onto the hook after a missed strike.
A single hair jig can last you several fishing trips, or until you hang it on a stump.
A lot of it comes down to personal preference. I find myself using plastics far more, as I like the speed of color changes that you get with plastic baits.
Some days it seems like crappie prefer one type over the other, but I have not been convinced that one is better than the other.
Advantages Of A Jig Over A Minnow
There are many reasons jigs are commonly found at the top of anyone’s list of best crappie baits. Below are the reasons I have jigs as my #1 bait.
- Jigs are better when the bite is hot. Minnows will slow you down.
- You don’t have to go through the hassle of obtaining live bait and keeping it lively
- Gives you the ability to experiment with unlimited color options
- Jigs won’t hang up as bad in thick cover. Minnows will swim around and wrap you up.
- Crappie jigs are cheap
- they last through multiple fish bites
- There are many styles and sizes available, so you can better match exactly what the crappie want on a given day
- Easier to detect subtle bites. No telling how many minnows I have set the hook on over the years.
Best Crappie Jig Colors
Crappie are sight feeders, and they feed mostly on tiny grayish or silver colored fish. So, those are the colors you should most often try to replicate. Wait, what?! You’re probably wondering why, then, do sporting goods stores carry every shade of the rainbow. Good question, and here are my thoughts.
2 Jig Color Rules, With Exceptions
I believe the 2 primary factors of which color you should choose are 1. use a color that matches what crappie are actively feeding on and 2. use a color combination that makes the jig stand out in the color water you are fishing, while still looking natural. As with anything, there are some exceptions. One notable exception is during the spawn. Crappie are much more aggressive at this time, and you can sometimes get away with using more vibrant colors than normal.
- Use colors that match what the crappie are feeding on
- Use Colors that make the Bait stand out while still looking natural
A Few Important Points About Colors
I plan to cover color selection in more detail in another article, but I’d like to make a few quick points about different colored crappie baits.
Firstly, the color of a bait, as seen on the shelf, isn’t necessarily how it appears when viewed under water. So, all those wild colors are not necessarily as crazy-looking under water.
Secondly, manufacturers try to snag shoppers with their color selections about as much as they try to snag fish. So, beware of unproven color combinations.
Thirdly, crappie are much more aggressive during the spawn, so brighter colors can work to your advantage at this time, even if they don’t necessarily look “natural”.
Top Colors For Crappie
The top 3 colors for crappie are chartreuse, chartreuse and chartreuse. There’s actually some truth to that statement. Chartreuse is a color that works well in both clear, and stained water, and is often the color you want to start with.
Branching away from chartreuse, other good color options for crappie are white, pink, yellow, green, black, red and blue. The number of possible crappie jig colors can make your head spin. See below for a list of my favorite colors.
To learn more crappie jig colors, check out my article about that here: Best Crappie Jig Colors, And How To Choose.
Crappie Jig Colors For Stained Water
- Opaque and solid colors
- Dark solid colors
- Black/pink
- black/chartreuse
- blue/chartreuse
- pink
- pink/white
- white
- red/chartreuse
- gold/chartreuse
- blue/chartreuse
- blue/white
- bobby garland cajun cricket
- bobby garland glacier
- bobby garland outlaw special
Crappie Jig Colors For Clear Water
- Natural colors
- Translucent colors
- White
- Chartreuse
- Blue/Clear
- Motor oil
- With or without glitter flakes
- Subdued colors
- Bobby Garland Monkey Milk
Best Crappie Jig Heads
Jig head choice is sometimes equally as important as the jig body you choose. The 2 primary considerations are weight of the jig and the hook size. And, while you’re at it, you can use the jig head as an option for using another color
1/16 Ounce Jig Heads (the most common)
By far, the most popular crappie jig head size is 1/16 ounce. And, the most popular shape is the simple round head. I’d say that’s what I use 80% of the time – a 1/16 or 1/8 ounce round jig head. It depends on the conditions, and more importantly the water depth, as to which one I’ll reach for.
In the spawn, when I’m fishing in less than 8 feet of water, 1/16 ounce is usually my best bet. Any deeper than 8 feet, and I’m considering moving to 1/8 ounce jig heads. Also, in rougher windy conditions I’ll go to 1/8 ounce so I can feel what’s going on with the jig.
Using Lighter Jig Heads
Only when I use 2 jigs at a time do I generally opt for a jig head lighter than 1/16 ounce for the top jig. A heavier bottom jig allows a 2 hook rig to fall without getting tangled, since the bottom jig will fall faster, and stay separated from the top jig.
Some people prefer using lighter 1/32 and 1/64 ounce jigs. It really does depend on the body of water, conditions, and what presentation you need out of the jig.
Keep An Assortment Of Jig Weights On Hand
Besides affecting the “feel” for what’s going on at the end of your line, different weights also change the fall rate of the lure. It’s best to have 2 or 3 weights to choose from, so that you can adapt to current conditions. I like to have mostly 1/16 and 1/8 ounce jig heads in an assortment of colors. I’ll also bring along a few 1/32 jig heads in case I happen to need them.
Jig Head Hooks
Not all jig heads are created equal. Some crappie jig heads have very small hooks, even on the 1/8 ounce versions. I presume these are just fine on lakes that don’t hold large crappie. But, down here in the deep south we sometimes hook into stud crappie. That’s why I like jigs with slightly larger hooks.
In my opinion, sickle-style hooks are the best option. If I’m fishing where I think I’m going to constantly get hung up, I might opt for a jig head with a smaller wire hook. A thin-wire hook will bend free of snags better. Otherwise, I prefer a larger, and stronger hook on my jig heads.
Best Crappie Jig Brands
If you’re looking for a good place to start, all the crappie jigs listed below are top notch, proven jigs. These are very popular in the crappie fishing community, and I have used all of them successfully.
- Southern Pro Crappie Jigs
- Bobby Garland
- Midsouth Tackle
- Panfish Assasins
- Mr. Crappie
How To Use Crappie Jigs
How To Attach A Crappie Jig
It’s best to attach a crappie jig to your mainline using a loop knot. Although this isn’t completely necessary, it does provide better action.
A loop knot also eliminates the hassle of making sure your knot is straight after every caught fish. You definitely don’t want your jig hanging at an unnatural angle in the water as shown below.
Using Multiple Jigs Per Pole
You can even fish 2 jigs on the same pole. There are videos readily available online to show you how to tie this setup. Just be sure to use a lighter jig head on the top. This helps minimize tangles. If the bottom jig is heavier, it will sink faster and keep the jigs away from each other during the fall.
Downsizing Jigs
If the bite is really tough, and you don’t want to go to minnows, you can sometimes downsize your jig to illicit more strikes.
Contrary to popular belief, small baits will catch big crappie. The Bobby Garland ‘Itty Bit’ is an example of a tiny jig that will sometimes get bites when normal sized jigs will not. This is particularly true in the dead of summer, or the middle of winter when the fish are sluggish.
Don’t just downsize the jig’s profile. You can also move down from the typical 1/16 ounce jig head to something lighter in order to really slow down the fall rate. 1/32 or 1/64 weighted jigs can work well at times.
Using Crappie Attractants On Your Jigs
Using some sort of attractant typically increases your catch rate. Whether it’s crappie nibbles, slab sauce, or something else, I almost always add an attractant. It seems to make them hold on longer, giving you more time to set the hook. This is particularly important if you’re spider rigging or slow trolling. With the rods in rod holders, you need the extra time to be able to get your hand on the rod and set the hook before they let go.
Injecting Scents Into Crappie Tubes
To juice up your hollow body jigs, squirt attractant inside the body cavity. I like to use a device called The Bait Pump (pictured below) to squeeze crappie nibbles into my tubes. You can check out this popular device at thebaitpump.com. Or, you could use a plastic syringe to accomplish the same thing, but I prefer the bait pump.
Alternatives To Crappie Nibbles
Slab sauce is a good alternative to crappie nibbles. I have not personally tried it, but it seems to have a great reputation. I plan on giving it a whirl this year.
Another intriguing option for scent is tipping your jigs with wax worms.
The famous crappie fishing duo, Capps and Coleman, revealed their use of wax worms in recent years. They claim that male crappie, in particular, go nuts for this presentation during the spawn. Tipping a jig with a wax worm, instead of a minnow, allows you to fish a jig through heavy cover, such as lily pads, without getting hung up as much.
Crappie Fishing With Minnows
Any article about the best crappie baits is going to sing the praises of the good ol’ minner.
There’s no denying the effectiveness of minnows, and they typically produce the winning weights at many crappie tournaments.
Minnows are a consistent crappie producer no matter what the conditions or water clarity are.
2 Different Species Of Minnows
“Minnows” typically fall into 2 groups – Golden Shiners (Black Minnows) and Fathead Minnows. Both of them work great.
Where I fish, I don’t typically have a choice – golden shiners are my only option. But, that’s OK as they work just fine for me.
When To Use Minnows
Minnows catch crappie at all times, but as the fish get more lethargic, that’s when minnows really help you get more bites. Two such times are winter, and the dead of summer.
Another time I find myself reaching for minnows is when the bite is tough due to high pressure.
What Size Minnows To Use For Crappie
Generally speaking, you will want to use bigger minnows during the pre-spawn, and move to smaller minnows in the summer.
Hooking Minnows
I like fine wire #2 gold rotating hooks by Mr. Crappie. When it comes to hooks, you’re going to get lot’s of different opinions. You can’t go wrong with a thin wire aberdeen style hook that’s sized appropriately for the bait you’re using. Gold, red, bronze, they all work.
You do want to make sure that you are using a thin wire hook. Thin wire hooks damage minnows less, and allow them to swim around freely. Light wire hooks also more easily bend free of any hooked snags.
If you plan to troll, the best way to hook a minnow is through the lips, as close to the tip as you can without them falling off. This style of hooking also works for stationary fishing. But, when stationary fishing, I prefer to hook them in the very top of the back, behind the dorsal fin. I feel that minnows can move around better, and entice more bites when hooked this way.
How To Crappie Fish With Minnows
These are my favorite methods, and some of the most productive ways, to fish a minnow for crappie.
- Under a bobber or slip cork
- Spider Rigging single or double minnow rigs
- Fishing them weightless
- Tipping jigs or jig heads with minnows (to be discussed separately)
Fishing Minnows Under A Bobber Or Slip Cork
Minnows can be cast out to sit under a bobber in order to fish stationary targets. You can also use bobbers to cover an area by dragging minnows slowly along, while suspended under the float.
I still really enjoy fishing with bobbers, as there’s something nostalgic about watching a bobber suddenly go under. Speaking of bobbers, my preference is a slip cork. These are generally a superior option, especially when fishing stationary, around heavy cover.
Spider Rigging With Single And Double Hook Minnow Rigs
Minnows can also be fished by tightlining them with a weight and no bobber.
If the water is more than about 5 feet deep, you may consider moving to a 2-hook minnow rig to put more fish in the boat. Fishing more than 2 depths at a time will help you hone in to their preferred depth more quickly. Just pay attention to which hook is getting the most bites.
The obvious drawback with a 2-hook rig is that you will lose more minnows. This can deplete your supply rather quickly, especially if you fish with 6 poles at a time like I do.
My suggestion about using a 2-hook minnow rig is to just buy one of the pre-packaged Capps and Coleman Double Minnow Rigs, and reproduce it for yourself. Heck, they even suggest that you do so. Those guys spent a lot of time getting the specifications of that rig just perfect, so that’s what I’d try to replicate.
Fishing Minnows Weightless For Crappie
When the fish are shallow, and are being particularly wary, I might toss out a minnow with no weight at all. Using very light 4 pound mono or flourocarbon, and a thin wire hook, I’ll toss it over spawning crappie, and let it slowly sink.
Once the minnow sinks just below the surface, it’s hard for crappie to resist.
Tipping Jigs Or Jig Heads With Minnows
Finally, even though it may seem strange, sometimes just an un-painted jig head tipped with a minnow works great.
Another effective variation, is to slide a crappie tube onto the hook before hooking the minnow. A little color sometimes helps you get more bites.
Minnow Management
Be sure to keep your minnows fresh and lively, and they will serve you well. To do so, simply follow the 3 rules below.
- Keep minnows cool, but not COLD
- Make sure the water in your bait bucket is well oxygenated
- Don't overcrowd your minnows
Keep Minnows Cold, But Not COLD
It’s important to keep minnows cool throughout the day. Place them in the shade when possible, and keep a lid on the bucket. Speaking of buckets, use either a styrofoam bucket, or a styrofoam lined bucket. I prefer to buy the styrofoam buckets surrounded by a metal wire cage, and then build a custom wooden lid for it. I don’t like the flimsy styrofoam lids flopping around in the boat. See below for my setup.
Your Bait Needs To Stay Well Oxygenated
To keep my bait well oxygenated, I use both battery powered aerators and my boat’s baitwell. The smaller your container is, the more critical proper aeration becomes. So, a larger bait container is generally better.
Don't Overcrowd Your Minnows
Depending on how many minnows you buy, and the size of your container, you may have to split your bait into 2 or 3 separate containers. I often carry more than one minnow bucket. It’s handy to have 2 containers anyway, if you are fishing with a partner. Keeping an extra container on hand at all times is a good idea. If the minnows appear to be struggling you can just spill some of them into the second container.
Crappie Fishing With Minnow-Tipped Jigs
When the bite is slow, minnows are key. But that doesn’t mean your only option is to use minnows all by their lonesome. One of the best crappie baits for stained water is a jig tipped with a minnow. Pairing up the top 2 crappie baits forms a sort of super bait. Alright, maybe not quite, but at times it actually can be very effective.
Why Does Tipping Jigs With Minnows Work
The added minnow changes lots of aspects of a jig. The size, buoyancy, movement, and scent of your jig, to name a few, are all impacted. I believe different aspects come into play on different days. I certainly don’t always know which of these aspects is the key on a given day. You just have to give it a try, to see if it’s what they want.
No matter what you think about this strange option, I’m telling you, it works more often than not.
When To Tip Crappie Jigs With Minnows
This setup is one of my favorite baits for stained water crappie in particular. And, because my personal preference is spider rigging, I’m often trying many different baits at once. Until I dial in to what the fish want, one of those baits is usually a jig minnow combination.
Often times the minnow tipped jig has been my most productive bait when running 6 poles. Maybe this won’t be the case in your fishing hole, but it’s worth a try.
Best Jig Hook For The Jig-Minnow Combo
All jigs are not created equal. When fishing the jig/minnow combo, I don’t prefer jigs with extremely strong hooks. A thinner wire hook is less stressful on the hooked minnow, and the jig will more readily pull free of snaggy places.
Even though I don’t want a thick hook, I do still want a jig with a pretty good size hook gap. The size of the exposed hook doesn’t seem to generally dissuade crappie from biting. But, itty bitty hooks do tend to result in ineffective hook-sets when using this presentation.
When To Avoid The Jig-Minnow Combo
Because I have so much confidence in this setup, I almost always give it a try. Of course, that’s assuming the bite isn’t on fire. In that case, jigs are typically your best bet, as they are more efficient. It’s best not to involve the hassle of a minnow when a jig is doing just fine on its own.
I always let the fish tell me if they want the jig tipped with a minnow or not.
How To Tip A Jig With A Minnow
Both 1/16 or 1/8 ounce jigs work well when tipping them with a minnow. Also, hair and plastic jigs work equally well, but I’m typically more a fan of plastics. Even a plain jig head with no skirt at all seems to work best at times.
Hook the minnow through its bottom lip and out the top lip. This presentation may look strange, and would seem to be unnatural. If you haven’t used it before, it’s killer on crappie.
How To Fish Minnow Tipped Jigs
I’m a spider rigger at heart, so that’s when I’m most often using minnow tipped jigs. But, I’ve also had great success with them while single poling. Just hold the rod still and let the minnow do the work.
I have even used a minnow-tipped jig many times under a slip float with great results. When the bite is slow, give it a try and see for yourself.
8 Other Good Crappie Baits
I listed some additional popular and effective crappie baits below. While these didn’t make my personal top 3 best crappie baits, they may perform well for you. I’ll sometimes use these when the water is extremely muddy, or when I’m quickly searching new water for spawning crappie.
Also, trolling small crankbaits for crappie is a “thing” in the Deep South. It’s just not my thing, so I don’t have much to add there. But, crankbaits are supposedly extremely effective in the summertime.
- Roadrunners
- Jigs tipped with wax worms
- Marabou jigs
- Small Spinnerbaits
- Beetlespins
- Berkley gulp minnows
- Inline spinner
- Small crankbaits
Conclusion
There are lots of different methods and baits that catch crappie. Like most fishing, it’s best to always have multiple options at your disposal. You never know what crappie might prefer on a given day. I will say, there is one bait that’s guaranteed to catch fish, or die trying. Minners!
If you like this article, check out my article about the Best Baits For Bluegill
For more information about how to catch crappie, visit crappie.com. They have loads of information available from hardcore crappie fishermen from all over.
Now, go catch some slabs,
Augustus Clay
