what is the #1 bait for fishing crappies?
No question about it. The Number 1 bait for crappie is live minnows. Most minnows used for bait in the U. S. are purchased from bait stores. Crappie prefer them around 1-1/2″ to 2″ in length. There are predominantly two species of minnow sold commerically in the US. The most popular and widely available minnow is the Fathead Minnow (Pimepahles promelas). Fatheads have a semi-streamlined body with flat sides, rounded fins, and a rounded nose. Coloring runs from greenish-gray to silvery. They can grow to 3″, but smaller sizes are desired for crappie. This is a hardy minnow that is easy to keep alive. The second most popular is the Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas). Shiners have a deeper body than Fatheads, and a deeply forked tail. They have a brassy, or golden sheen to them. They are semi-hardy and can be kept alive in bait buckets for extended times if the water is kept cool and well oxygenated. Live shad are also used for crappie. They must be seined, and are difficult to keep alive, so they are not the first choice for serious crappie anglers. There are those that will argue that jigs are the #1 bait, and under some circumstances they may be right. Jigs come in a variety of styles. One of the more popular styles is the ‘tube’ bait. These are plastic sleeves that fit completely over a small jighead, giving a uniform and life-like appearance. Often, they are enhanced with a scent to increase their effectiveness. Another type is t=”BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffcc”> The best bait will differ according to prevailing conditions. Happy Fishing!
