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Ask around any bait shop in Oklahoma and you'll hear crappie called slabs, papermouths, specks, or just "a mess of fish for the fryer." They're one of the best-eating fish around, and you don't need fancy gear to catch them. A light rod, a pack of jig heads and a few soft plastics in the right colors will catch crappie in a farm pond, off a dock or around brush on the big lakes. Here's how to pick jigs and colors, and how to find crappie from fall into winter.
Jig basics
A crappie jig is just a small lead head with a hook, plus a soft-plastic body. Most crappie fishing uses 1/32, 1/16 or 1/8 oz heads. Lighter heads fall slower and look more natural; heavier heads get down faster in wind or deeper water. Common body styles:
- Shad bodies with a thin, wiggly tail, like the Bobby Garland Baby Shad. These are a staple.
- Curly tails and grubs for more action on a slow retrieve.
- Tubes, which spiral on the fall.
- Scented minnow baits that some anglers tip with or use in place of live minnows.
Oklahoma colors
Crappie anglers love to argue about color, and Oklahoma has its favorites. The ODWC Crappie Angler Guide names Electric Chicken and Monkey Milk as popular soft-plastic colors. A simple rule of thumb: bright and chartreuse colors in stained or muddy water, natural and see-through colors in clear water, and dark or glow colors in low light. Bring a few and let the fish tell you.
How to fish them
Under a cork
The simplest way to start. Set a slip cork or bobber so the jig hangs just above the fish or the top of the brush, cast it out, and twitch it now and then. The ODWC guide points out a handy tell: on an up-bite, when a crappie takes the jig and swims up, "the bobber will fall flat." When that happens, set the hook.
Vertical jigging brush piles
Drop straight down into brush and hold the jig still or barely move it. Crappie stack up in brush piles and cedar trees. The ODWC Crappie Angler Guide also mentions a brush-pile map that shows where structure has been placed in public lakes.
Shooting docks
On lakes with lots of docks, anglers "shoot" a tiny jig back under the dock by bending the rod like a slingshot. It takes practice, but it gets the jig where the fish are hiding.
Spider rigging
On big lakes in winter, a lot of crappie fishermen push several long rods fanned off the front of the boat, often with Kentucky rigs (a two-hook setup with a weight between) bumping bottom along creek channels. Posters on a Crappie.com Lake Eufaula winter thread describe exactly this approach.
Crappie in your pond
If you've got crappie in a small pond, keep plenty. Crappie are known for overpopulating small ponds, which leads to lots of small, stunted fish. Taking a mess for the fryer can be one of the best things for the pond's balance. Fish the pond's brush, the dam and any dock with a small jig under a cork.
Winter crappie on the big lakes
From December through February, crappie often group up deep along creek channels, around bridges and on brush. Some Oklahoma lakes have enclosed or heated fishing docks, which the ODWC guide mentions for places like Grand and Eufaula, that let you fish comfortably when it's bitter out. Call ahead about fees and hours.
Rod, reel and line
You don't need a special crappie setup to start. A light or ultralight spinning rod with a small reel and light line will cast tiny jigs and let you feel the bite. Crappie have thin mouths, which is where "papermouth" comes from, so a soft rod and a light drag help keep the hook from tearing out. Long crappie rods, often called jig poles, are handy for dipping jigs into brush and for spider rigging. If you're just getting started, see our spinning reel guide and fishing line guide.
When the bite is slow
Slow down and go lighter. Drop to a smaller jig head so the bait falls slower, try a more natural color, and hold the jig still longer. If you've caught one, fish that same depth around nearby cover. Crappie school up, and where there's one there's often more.
Limits
Crappie limits vary by lake, so check before you keep fish. A few examples from our research:
- The ODWC Crappie Angler Guide lists a 10-inch minimum and 15 per day on Grand and Tenkiller, and a statewide daily limit of 37.
- On Lake Texoma, TPWD's Texoma regulations list a 10-inch minimum, 37 per day and a possession limit of 50.
Gear we'd look at
Picks that fit this guide, chosen from Amazon's current best-seller and search listings; we haven't tested them hands-on, so check current details, sizes and variants on the listing.
- Bobby Garland Mo' Glo Baby Shad (2-inch) — The Baby Shad in glow-in-the-dark colors; the listing says 18 per pack. Choose your color on the listing.
- Strike King Mr. Crappie jig heads (25-pack) — A 25-pack of crappie jig heads. Pick the weight you want on the listing.
- B'n'M Russ Bailey Crappie Wizard rod — A two-piece crappie rod; check lengths on the listing.
- Berkley Gulp! Alive! Minnow — A scented minnow bait anglers use on a jig or in place of live minnows.
- Rapala CrushCity Mayor paddle tail — A paddle-tail swimbait the listing suggests for swim jigs and underspins; best for bigger crappie and bass.
Related: Fall pond bass lures · Spinning reels for beginners