LIP GRIPPER
TAKE YOUR CRAPPIE GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL [TACTICS]
BY BRAD WIEGMANN
NOTHING GETS DEEP INTO CRAPPIE STRUCTURE
CATCH MORE CRAPPIE
LIKE A KAYAK. PHOTO: BRAD WIEGMANN
K
ayak anglers have a huge advantage over motorboaters when targeting crappie. Professional crappie angler Dan Dannenmueller points out, “Kayaks have better mobility and don’t scare the crappie like a big boat will.” To get in on the action, Dannenmueller suggests scaling down the techniques used by motorboaters.
During the spring spawn, locate crappie nests by standing in the kayak
and searching the bottom for frying-pan-sized white spots in the grass. “A good pair of polarized sunglasses makes it easier to see through the water,” Dannenmueller adds.
Spring is the best time to work a 1/16- to 1/8-ounce jig and a two-inch
curly tail around laydowns, buck brush and standing timber. “The colder the water the slower you should work the jig,” Dannenmueller says, “less action is more appealing to the crappie.” He also recommends sticking with a school of crappie until they bite. “If you mark fish on the fishfinder and they won’t bite, don’t leave,” he says, “instead change colors, jigs and presentation until you figure out what the fish want.”
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As summer begins, crappie move from the spawning areas to the first drop-off, deep brush-piles or offshore structure. “Always fish around schools of bait fish,” Dannenmueller says. “Catching crappie in open water is more challenging for kayak anglers,” Dannenmueller says. The best way to cover a lot of water in search of scat- tered fish is trolling a Rebel Crappie Crank-R at about one mile per hour. “It may take a lot of paddling or pedaling,” he says, “but once you find the fish you can circle the area and catch more.” Dannenmueller recommends installing a trolling motor to maintain the perfect speed. In the fall, crappie will move to shallow flats to feed. “A kayak moves slowly
and silently,” says Dannenmueller, “making it perfect for fishing these areas.” To thoroughly cover a large flat, Dannenmueller recommends powerdrift- ing with a double rig. Start with two jig heads from 1/16- to 3/8-ounce. Tie a heavier jig 14 inches below a lighter one. Rig the heavier head with a two- inch soft plastic tail and the lighter with a live minnow or another rubber tail. Rig up several rods and drop the jigs at different depths. Then slowly paddle around the flat while keeping the lines as vertical as possible. A high quality fishfinder and GPS will allow the angler to fish more ef-
ficiently. “A fishfinder allows you to mark structure, bait and fish,” Dannenm- ueller says, “and helps to eliminate unproductive water.” An accurate GPS mapping program will identify drops, points and humps. “You can track the area that you’ve already covered and focus on the spots that are holding fish,” Dannenmueller adds. Kayak anglers targeting crappie can fish the same places the same way as a motorboater. “Chances are they’ll catch more fish,” Dannenmueller adds.
FOUR GOOD EYES T
36…KAYAK ANGLER
ADD A PAIR OF BINOCULARS TO YOUR TACKLE BOX BY ADAM GILVARRY
o cut down on paddling when I’m chasing pods of redfish, I use binoculars to scan the water in search of tailing reds or schools of fish swimming on the surface. This way, I can spot the redfish from a distance and plan how best to intercept them. A pair of compact 8X25 binoculars will fit in a PFD pocket or small dry bag. Look for binoculars that are waterproof and lightweight. Higher quality (more expensive) binoculars will produce a brighter image—especially important with compact models. Binoculars are also handy when searching for feeding birds or looking for other signs of fish. And you can
always use binoculars to spy on other anglers! For sending in this Reader Tip, Adam Gilvarry will take home a Kayak Session hat by GreenFish Movement
(
www.greenfishmovement.com). Send your best tips and tricks to make kayak fishing easier, more effective and more fun to
editor@kayakanglermag.com. Check out more tips from our readers at
www.rapidmedia.com/0138.
PHOTO: RIC BURNLEY
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