A fish locator is a valuable piece of equipment when targeting summer Crappie.  The place they are feeding one night may be totally different as the conditions change.  Once you find the fish it becomes a matter of figuring out what depth the fish are feeding at.  Crappie are a peculiar fish, they often feed at a certain water depth and will not move up or down to feed.   This is where a crappie rig comes in handy.  I make a rig that has two jigs spaced one foot apart.  With this rig I not only double the amount of bait I am offering but also cover two differ water depths.  Through trial and error I am quickly able to establish the water depth the fish are currently feeding at.
 
It is during the last hour before sunset that Minnesota offers a unique fishing method that is available only on still nights where the water surface appears like glass.  At this time Crappie will feed off bugs on the surface.  You can distinguish their location by looking for the telltale boils on top of the water.  When you scan the water and see a series of round boils on top of the water you have found your spot.  When fishing in this manner you should use a small pink jig.  I like to cast it far and employ a fast retrieve.
 
Take care when setting the hook on a Crappie.  They are often called "paper mouth" because the cartilage around their mouth is torn easily.  When you set the hook a light jerk to the left or right is all it really takes to do the job. When fighting the fish be sure to keep the line tight, any slack created gives the fish the chance to throw the hook free.

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