Well, hopefully spring has sprung in your part of the world. I can promise we are already having plenty of days where the mercury is rising quickly.
We recently got the guys together that know a thing or two about catching crappie and it is a great time just sitting back and listening to their stories. If you can imagine being a fly on the wall when Big Show Scroggins and ol’ Bob McKamey get together, it is quite the experience. If you ain’t from ‘round here, you might need a translator...but you will have a laugh.
I did pick up a few words of wisdom that I feel need to be passed along.
What Time is Crappie Time?
I could see Bob's eyes light up when he started to describe his favorite time of year. "Growing up in middle Tennessee, I can remember in the Spring when the Redbud and Dogwood trees would start blooming, it would be the time to get your crappie gear in order and hit the water. Not to say that you can’t catch crappie year round, Springtime meant that they would start moving shallow and the bite would be on", Bob recalled.
Obviously each location has its own visual cues from Florida to Michigan but those anglers that know, get fired up about crappie fishing.
Best Crappie Blanks
We have a huge supply of rod blanks for every possible application and crappie is no different. It wouldn't be a Mud Hole journal without pointing out some not-so-obvious crappie blanks and even one or two that might get me in a little bit of trouble.
I'm going to start with one of the most popular crappie blanks in the entire line-up. Granted, you can use this blank for more than just crappie or panfish, but there is a reason MHX produces it in 14 colors - it is that good!
Bob describes his number one choice, "I really enjoyed casting a 1/16 oz hair jig with a plastic curly tail trailer, road runner or a beetle spin. For me a 6’6” ultralight or light powered rod with 4lb test clear line was the ticket. At 6’6”, it is just the right length for me when casting around stumps, willow bushes, lay downs, or sunken brush. The MHX S781-MHX is the perfect for rod blank for that type of situation.
Specifications: 6'6" | 2-6 lb. | 1/32 - 3/16 oz. | Fast Action | Ultra-light Power
Float a Minnow
Another effective technique, especially when there's ripple or wave action on the water, is using a hair jig tipped with a minnow. A small, pear-shaped bobber set to a specific depth helps create a natural bouncing motion from the surface ripple, enhancing the jig’s action. For this setup, I prefer a 7’ light-powered rod like the S842-MHX for its ideal sensitivity and control.
Specifications: 7'0" | 4-8 lb. | 1/16 - 5/16 oz. | Fast Action | Light Power
Best Guide Kits for Crappie Builds
As you move into the 7 footers, it allows a little more versatility to fish for bass and throw lures like the original floating Rapala or small rattle-traps. In addition, if you decide to go up in reel size to something like a 2500, you do need to pay attention to your guide train. From the standard panfish spinning reels like the size 500 or size 1000, you can start with a size 16 as your first spinning guide but once you get to a 2500, you need to consider going up to the size 20 as your first stripping guide.
I wanted to jump in here with these guide kits because they are the only kits in the industry specifically designed taking the reel size into account. The TiForged High-Frame Micro Spinning Guide Kits and TiForged High-Frame Spinning Guide Kits have the options to choose which size reel you will be putting on your custom build to be sure you get the best kit for your fishing rod.
Unconventional Crappie Blanks
Many crappie anglers request longer rods, either for dabbling around lilly pads or spider rigging.
The dabbling is fairly self explanatory and you are using the length of the rod to reach away from the boat and drop your jig or minnow in and around parts of lilly pads or other cover that you would otherwise not be able to reach or retrieve your lure back through.
The spider rig is is a highly effective crappie fishing technique that involves using multiple long rods (typically 10–16 feet) spread out in front of the boat, resembling the legs of a spider—hence the name. Anglers slowly troll or drift through the water with each rod set at a different depth or bait presentation, covering a wide area to locate and catch suspended or scattered crappie.
For the crappie blanks that fly under the radar, the MHX Steelhead are the long rod solution. These types of rods typically range from 8'6" to 12', and sometimes even longer, depending on the angler’s preference and technique. MHX Steelhead blanks are ideal for spider rigging thanks to their light power and soft tip flex, which provide the sensitivity needed for detecting light bites. With line ratings from 4lb to 8lb and a variety of lengths available, these blanks are perfectly suited for effective crappie presentations.
The best selling long rod is the 12 footer ST1442-MHX. Yes, it is also a two-piece - so it is easy to ship and carry.
Specifications: 12'0" | 4-8 lb. | 1/4 - 5/8 oz. | Mod-Fast Action | Med-Light Power
Remember, there are very few rules in rod building, so this steelhead blank is an incredible option to build out a long rod exactly how you want it. I have seen them built like a fly rod with two stripper guides, single foot runners and a full wells grip or set one up spinning with a 1000 size reel. One of the guys here in the shop was even testing one built as a BFS casting rod and spooled up with light fluorocarbon line. He even spiral wrapped it!
I am going to sneak this in here and hope I don't get in trouble for mentioning fly rod blanks for crappie fishing. As I mentioned above, long blanks have always had a place in panfishing and fly rod blanks do fit the bill nicely. The MHX Traditional Fly blanks have 2 and 4 piece options and I would recommend the 2pc if you are dabbling, but use the shorter 4pc if you want to cast lures. These fly blanks are lightweight and can throw a very small lure a long way. So whether you need to cast a small lure or just reach out away from the boat to dip your minnow, you might want to check out a fly blank...just don't tell them I told you to do it!
Handle Options
With all the handle options from cork to carbon, I am still partial to the Tennessee Handle style and I know ol' Bob shares the same sentiment. They are light and the traditional cork feel is unmatched. It just can feel out of place with some people due to the lack of reel seat. Don't worry, all you need is the Tennessee Cork Handle and the Slip Rings for your reel. For a straight forward explanation, check out this Mud Hole Live Episode: Another Crappie Episode
I want to thank Bob McKamey and "Big Show" Terry Scroggins for the help, taking the team crappie fishing and putting together an awesome fish fry! That's the real reason we fish for crappie, right? To release in the grease!
Enjoy!
