I’ve been told that a bobber rig is an excellent choice for teaching kids how to fish for crappie. What is a bobber rig and how do I set one up?

Using a bobber rig is a very simple way to fish for Crappie, it’s great for beginners and children.  To set up a bobber rig, you’ll need a lightweight pole, 6-8 pound line, a bobber such as a Mini-Shy Bite Float (Shill)  a hook and bait.  Minnows work the best.

As always, the trick to successful Crappie fishing is actually locating the fish, I’d suggest fishing for Crappie about 2 feet off the bottom.  You’ll want to tie your bobber stop knot up that distance from the end of the line.  Place the bobber stop bead, slip bobber and hook at the knot.  Add a fairly good size split shot about 24 inches above the hook.  Once you’ve attached your bait, toss it over the side of the boat or the dock.  You’ll need a little slack in the line to allow the bobber to bounce a little.  If you get a strike the bobber will go completely underwater and you’ll want to set the hook immediately.  If you see the bobber bounce and pop back up a few times, set the hook during the bounce.  If you miss the fish, check to make sure your bait is still attached and get it back down quickly.  Crappie are known for their paper-thin mouths and you don’t want to set the hook too hard or it’ll simply rip out.