Lures for crappie
Best crappie jigs and baits: small jigs, minnows and floats
Crappie school on timber and cover. Small jigs and live minnows under a float catch all year, the depth changes with the season.
The lure groups
What for, in which size and colour, and how to work it.
Small jig (marabou or plastic)
Timber, docks, brush piles, vertical and cast. The standard for crappie.
- Size
- Jig 1/32 to 1/8 oz, plastic or marabou 1 to 2.5 in.
- Colour
- Chartreuse, white, pink in stained water, natural and black-chartreuse in clear water.
- Retrieve
- Slow vertical at timber, or cast and retrieve very slowly, the jig should hover at one depth.
Live minnow under a float
Spawn in the shallows, cautious fish, kids and beginners.
- Size
- Minnow 1 to 2.5 in on a size 4 to 6 hook, light float, small split shot.
- Colour
- Not relevant.
- Retrieve
- Set the float so the minnow hangs just above the cover. Change depth in one-foot steps until the bites come.
Jig under a float
Wind, slow trolling along the bank, crappie at a fixed depth.
- Size
- Jig 1/32 to 1/16 oz, slip float with a stop set to depth.
- Colour
- As with the jig, bright in stained water.
- Retrieve
- Pull slowly, short pauses, the float only twitches on a bite.
Small spinner and beetle spin
Covering water, crappie on weed edges in spring.
- Size
- Blade size 0 to 1, beetle spin 1/16 to 1/8 oz.
- Colour
- White and chartreuse.
- Retrieve
- Slow and steady, just fast enough for the blade to turn.
Through the year
- Spring (spawn) Best time, crappie shallow on brush and timber at 60 to 68 F water temperature, minnow and jig under a float.
- Summer Deeper on timber and edges, 10 to 20 ft, vertical with a jig, early and evening shallow.
- Fall Crappie move back to mid-depths and creeks, jig and minnow on timber.
- Winter Deep in holes and at bridges, small jigs slowly, ice fishing where allowed.
Rules of thumb
Crappie school at one depth. Change depth until the first one bites, then stay there.
Thin line, light rod, small baits. Crappie have paper mouths, do not rip.
Daily limits and minimum sizes are set by each state. Check the US licence page before you keep fish.
Quick questions
What is the best lure for crappie?
Small marabou or plastic jigs on timber and docks, live minnows under a float during the spawn. Both slow and at the right depth.
What colour for crappie jigs?
Chartreuse, white and pink in stained water, natural and black-chartreuse in clear water. When in doubt start with chartreuse.
When do crappie bite best?
In spring during the spawn at 60 to 68 F water temperature shallow on brush, in fall in the creeks. In summer early and evening.
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Lures for other species
Lures for other species
Everything here is a rule of thumb from practice, not a guarantee. Lures are named as a group, not as a brand. Sizes are guide values.
Licence, minimum sizes and bag limits are set by each state. Fishing licence USA: agency by state
Know more?
Additions, photos of your catches or a mistake in the text: write to us and we will gladly credit you as a helper.
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