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Crappie Crew

Guys who love to catch crappie.

Website: http://crappiecrew.com
Location: Illinois
Members: 92
Latest Activity: Nov 26, 2024

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Crappie Articles

https://www.crappienow.com/Continue

Started by John Sheehan Jul 8, 2019.

Where The Crappies Are... GREAT IN-FISHERMAN ARTICLE 6 Replies

Where The Crappies Areby Dr. Rob Neumann     Telemetry studies can track daily movements and seasonal migrations of fish, with the use of surgically implanted or externally attached transmitters.…Continue

Started by Slip Sinker. Last reply by John Sheehan Feb 22, 2018.

Drifting Live Bait/ Float Fishing Live bait from shore ,two different lakes 14 Replies

  In this case drifting medium large Herring over structure at a 26-30 foot bottom produced 12 fish ,10 Crappie between 13-15", a 19,1/2" Pickerel and a 11,1/2" Perch . Number 4 Aberdeen Hook , #5 or…Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Dec 10, 2015.

Eagle Claw Species Specific USA made Hooks 2 Replies

http://www.eagleclaw.com/site/wp-content/uploads/PDF/LZ/Hooks.pdf pg 21 of the Eagle Claw hook catalog shows  L214 # 8…Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Nov 28, 2015.

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Comment by jim cosgrove on December 21, 2013 at 5:25pm

we seem to be over run with crappie in illinois.not a bad thing but seems they are begining to stunt.i catch as many crappie as gills on my flyrod.they seem to be everywhere but small

Comment by robert b reid on December 21, 2013 at 4:32pm

yep i like catching crappie he is 3lb and 15" long caught on a 2" triple tail grub black and chartreuse  wih a 1/16 jig.

Comment by John Sheehan on December 18, 2013 at 5:52pm

David, "Mc Scruff ", I catch way more Crappie from a boat than I do from shore ,if that means anything to you .

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 18, 2013 at 5:03pm

Love the wagglers, Allen... for everything but crappie.

It seems the word is out among the crappie clan to avoid any of my offerings like the plague.

In fact, her's an excerpt from the Chief Crappie's 2013 summary memo on fishermen:

"...In closing, let me say a few words about that McScruff character. When he's on the waters, all my fellow crappie are to vacate the premises. Don't even let him THINK you are near. For the last three decades, McScruff hasn't seen even one of our brethren on a hook... and we want to keep it that way.

SO, lets not spoil the mystery - and our total blank-out catch record - with the ONE angler that we've managed to elude! We don't get many victories these days, so I know you fellow crappie will join me in our continuing campaign to skunk this guy.

Remember our motto: "When McScruff is around, crappie are gone!".

Comment by Andy "Fillet em" Eitutis on December 18, 2013 at 4:56pm
Well McSruff we may just have to go crappie fishin someday and change your luck with the little fellas lol!!!
Comment by Allen Morgan on December 18, 2013 at 4:32pm

Ok, I just had to comment!!!

I've caught Crappie on a variety of artificial baits.  Chrome-colored lipless crankbaits (Rat-L-Traps, and other similar baits), Rapala X-Rap size 6, Rapala Clackin' Minnow size 5, in-line spinnerbaits in a variety of sizes, heck, I even caught one on a Rebel 7700 series crawfish crankbait!

Crappie will jump all over young-of-the-year Shad, what we call "candy shad" down here in Okieland.  This is usually in the late summer / early fall.  Perfect time to start throwing lipless crankbaits.

Also, this year, I have noticed that a lot of the Crappie in the river I fish are extremely "light-biting".  If you use a styrofoam slip-float, the float might just give a quick blip-blip-blip, and that's it.  However, since I've started using the large size Thill TG Waggler slip-float, I've noticed that the float will do one of two things: 

1)  It might rise up and lay on it's side.  This is a "lift-bite".  I don't always set the hook when I see this, but will start taking up slack.  Usually, the fish will only lift the bait a few inches, hold for a few seconds, then take it down.  The float will stand up, then go under.

2)  The float will just start to S-L-O-W-L-Y go under.  I mean, it may take several seconds to fully submerge.  When I notice this, again, I start taking in slack, and as soon as the top goes under, I'll set the hook.

Comment by John Sheehan on December 18, 2013 at 12:31pm

nothing better!

Comment by John Sheehan on December 18, 2013 at 12:31pm

I hear ya Andy ,and that's when you catch plenty ;they want to eat it and they get all competitive on a feed!

Comment by Andy "Fillet em" Eitutis on December 18, 2013 at 12:06pm
I agree with McScruff on this totally my rattle trap crappie was purely a reaction strike!!! But when using artificial jigs, hometyed flys, gold hook n a minnow the light striking crappies that are taking there time striking are the ones i want!!! Cuz that means they truly do want your bait they have sat there looking at it even tasting it without us knowing. I love it!!!!
Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 9, 2013 at 11:14am
Well, we know fish take artificial baits for reasons other than purely feeding. Protection of nests and what seems to be nothing more than reflex come to mind. I mean, nothing in Nature even remotely resembles a whirring chopper blade or clattering, neon crank bait.

Pretty cool.
 

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Latest Activity

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July Bully jig/crawler piece

The lonely Bully and in July midday! Didn't see them at this spot earlier this year. In years past,…
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
Sunday
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Quality Gills…Caught and Released….7/9/2025

"Thanks Bruce…..I think they’re here for the Buck moon tomorrow and a week from now…"
Thursday
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Beautiful Crappie Replica Mounts…..7/9/2025

"I thought they tuned out great…..the tuxedo crappie looks real…."
Thursday
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Wednesday
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Wednesday
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Wednesday
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Wednesday
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Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"We’re in another heat wave so I got to my first spot ten minutes before sunrise….left the ramp at 5:30 and back on the trailer at 8:30…"
Wednesday
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Nesting Pair of Ospreys......

"Yeah most nests are not this close to the water and this river is remote with alligators and large…"
Jul 7
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Nesting Pair of Ospreys......

"Guess the Osprey knew it was a great spot too. The Cormorants up here are murder on the stocked…"
Jul 7
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Nesting Pair of Ospreys......

"This was a great fishing spot for me until the osprey nested……I’ve seen chicks…"
Jul 6
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Jul 6
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So many spots to place your bait...

"These cypress trees are now in the water….still producing great fishing…"
Jul 6
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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The big Cypress downed by a Hurricane.....

"This is a good example John…..I posted this picture in 2012 and a couple weeks ago I caught…"
Jul 6
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Jul 6
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Found a Few Hibiscus not Quite Bloomed…..7/5/2025

"Thanks John…..being in the south we’re always drawn to cypress trees and the…"
Jul 6
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Found a Few Hibiscus not Quite Bloomed…..7/5/2025

"Nice info, Jeffrey! Up here my main Crappie habits have been wood cover near deep water and willow…"
Jul 6

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