Louisiana Sportsman

Head count — How to choose the right crappie jig

September 1, 2015 David A. Brown

There are a growing number of jighead options for crappie fishing, but which one is right? Here are some expert thoughts to help you decide.[…]

A planer approach — How to use planer boards and big crankbaits for crappie fishing

September 1, 2015 Kinny Haddox

Think spider-rigging for crappie is high-tech? Then you’ll be blown away by the new-age tactic of using planer boards and big crank baits to dredge up fish.[…]

The key to summertime crappie limits

August 21, 2015 Dan Kibler

According to veteran guide Jerry Neeley, a limit of big crappie in August is as easy as a technique he calls “power trolling.”[…]

Focus on travel routes for postspawn crappie

May 22, 2015 Dan Kibler

Catching crappie after the spawn is a matter of following them along their travel routes to deep water. Here are some tips.[…]

Tim Bye would rather wait until after crappie finish their spawning rituals and move out.

11 tips for mopping up on post-spawn crappie

May 6, 2015 Andy Crawford

Tim Bye knows crappie still feed in the post-spawn —if you know how to target them. Here are his tips to putting together enough fish for dinner.[…]

Catch more crappie using dehydrated nibbles

April 7, 2015 Josh Chauvin

Face it: Crappie can be very finicky feeders when you’re using artificial lures. […]

Stacking up the state fish — Sac-a-lait fishing tips for Chicot Lake

April 1, 2015 Chris Berzas

In 1993, the Louisiana Legislature designated the “white perch” as the state’s official freshwater fish.[…]

Duck Commander crappie poles no gimmick

March 15, 2015 Kinny Haddox

Late last year, the Duck Commander crew and popular jig pole manufacturer B’n’M got together to develop and market a whole new line of crappie fishing poles.[…]

Glynn Lavergne catches tons of crappie because he uses very light, sensitive tackle.

Tips from a crappie killer

February 20, 2015 Chris Berzas

Part of Glynn Lavergne’s secret to success with slab crappie has to do with the very sensitive tackle he uses to entice fish.[…]

February is best month to load up on crappie

February 19, 2015 Dan Kibler

Fishermen who wait until March to break out their crappie rods are missing some of the best fishing of the year.[…]

How to hook a minnow

February 19, 2015 Phillip Gentry

Veteran angler Whitey Outlaw impales his live bait upside down, inserting the hook through the minnow’s nostril and coming out behind the lower jaw.[…]

Crappie hotspots: The beat goes on at Lake Bistineau

February 13, 2015 Chris Ginn

With no malice in his heart, Homer Humphreys says Lake Bistineau is the “dangdest” lake he’s ever seen.[…]

Yo, crappie — give up the ghost!

January 10, 2015 Catch Cormier

Despite his great love for hunting, my dad would often forego a deer hunt in the last days of the season to get an early start on fishing. As he would constantly remind me, if you want big sac-a-lait, you need to fish cold water.[…]

Good Scents

September 1, 2014 David A. Brown

Adding smell to your crappie baits increases appeal and results in more bites. Here are some expert thoughts from Toledo Bend guide Jerry Thompson.[…]

When crappie are super aggressive, double headers are common.

Time to Troll

January 15, 2014 David A. Brown

A veteran long-liner, crappie tournament pro Mark Williams likes to mix things up and dial in what the fish want.[…]

Crappie typically try to bust up large bait balls into smaller more manageable clusters, which these multi-arm rigs resemble.

Casting call

January 15, 2014 David A. Brown

Unlike those shoulder-straining full-size umbrella rigs designed for largemouth bass, the crappie versions won’t send you to the chiropractor after a weekend on the lake.[…]