8/17/22 Five tips to catch more summertime Big Four Reservoir crappie

Catch More Summertime Crappie with these Five Tips From Mississippi Crappie Fishing Guide Service Barton Outfitters

1. Crappie follow a predictable seasonal travel pattern. Learn it.

Take time to learn crappie migration patterns, if you understand the general crappie cycle of shallow water spawning in the spring, open water foraging in the summer and fall, and hunkering down against structure in the winter, then you will avoid wasting time fishing where the fish aren't. Even if you don't know exactly where the fish are biting on any given day, understanding the places to look and perhaps more importantly knowing where not to waste your time is key to maximizing your fishing time.

2. Troll, homey.

Trolling, whether a single crankbait, a number of long lined jigs to full blown out, down or spider rigging, will allow you to cover a lot of ground and find scattered fish or identify fishy areas in new locations. Most folks troll for crappie between .6 mph - to 2.5 mph. I prefer 1.2, as it allows me to simultaneously run crankbaits off the back or front of boat while pushing or pulling jigs. I read once that if you can't catch fish in the 4-7 mile swath you might expect to cover during a day of trolling for crappie, you are either trolling in the wrong locations or at the wrong time of year, otherwise, this technique should work, regardless of how you deploy it.

3. Thoughtfully scout before and during your trip.

Constantly update your understanding by visually scouting before, during and after your trip. Mark every fish you catch (apps like OnX or FishSmart let you use your phone in lieu of a boat mounted chart). Observe what the shad look like (size and body shape) there will often be dead shad floating on top of lakes where they are forage after being hit or killed but not immediately eaten. This is always a good starting point as you determine or hone your presentation. If you see 3.5" fat body shad, consider a swim bait or large 1/2 beetle spin. If you see smaller bodied or shorter shad, consider sizing down these offerings to more closely mimic what the fish are feeding on right then.

4. Maximize your chances by taking every legal advantage.

If harvest is your goal, take every advantage. On the Mississippi flood control reservoirs known for producing trophy crappie (Sardis, Enid, Arkabutla and Grenada Lake) this would mean fishing the maximum of four rods, each with two hooks or lures per pole (except when cranking) and if you weren't fishing straight minnows, tipping your artificial jig or spinner with a bait offering such as a lip hooked minnow or crappie nibble. We maximize our chances on summertime Guided Crappie Fishing Trips on Sardis Lake by doing a couple of things involving rod length, teaser baits, manipulated straight line trolls, and the use of Yo-Yo's.

5. Fishing for them works too.

Go back to basics. Crappie relate to structure, they suspend early in the day, they go deep for the rest of the day. Sunny day/spinner or metallic. Murky water/contrast or bright colors. Points, ledges, ditches, bait balls, diving birds. Or just go to the boat ramp and wait and watch. There's always an old timer who is willing to lie to you about where he managed to find that cooler full of slabs.

If all else fails in your pursuit of summertime crappie (or white bass for that matter) hire a guide.

Grenada Lake Charters, Sardis Lake Charters, Enid Lake Charters and Arkabutla Lake Charters are all offered by Barton Outfitters. These fully guided crappie fishing trips and guided white bass fishing trips take place on The Big Four corps of engineers flood control reservoirs in North Mississippi and occasionally on the Little Tallahatchie River and Yocona River. Your guides provide all rods, bait, and tackle. We fillet and bag your catch for transport home at no charge. Call or text 469-763-1885 to book your guided fishing tour today.