Home Forums Fishing Freshwater What is your best crappie lure?

Lots of you are crappie catching experts, so I'm looking for a better lure than the pink jig with white marabou feather that I tried last evening. I'm fishing a gin clear lake about 60 acres and 80' feet deep with some lily pads around the edges. I was jigging it under the boat and nothing. Then casting it away from the boat and twitching it and nothing. Then I tried a slower retrieve just off the weeds and not twitching it and got two with a steady, slower retrieve. That white feather did not have a lot of action. Would a small twister tail or a spinner or a Rapala work any better? What is your go to crappie lure? Thanks.

Try some different colored jigs.
A medium sized flathead minnow on a jig works real well this time of year too. I try and figure out what color jig they like first then put the minnow on it and start reeling them in.

Road Runner. The willow blade works well for me. Color is a matter personal preference. powdr

We aren't allowed live minnows in Utah, but plastic ones work just fine. A 2" Ripple Shad (Berkely) on a light jig head or Road Runner head is great. Ditto a 2" Gulp minnow.

When crappie get picky, dangle a jig under a slip float. Wave motion gives the jig just enough action.

Gypsi Jig

Bobby Garland 2" baby shad rigged on a chartreuse round head jig in 1/32 through 1/8 Oz jig depending on depth. Most of the colors work but the pearl white, albino shad and electric chicken are always working here in Vt. Throw it out and let it sink and retrieve with twitches. I use a countdown drop to find the right depth then when you get a bite drop to the same count and retrieve. They also work jigged vertically but not as well.

Yesterday afternoon I had a pink jig and white Twister Tail and the bass ate it, so I tried a yellow Twister Tail. I've never seen such a color preference. Three crappies in three casts and before that I hadn't hooked even one on the white plastic. Very clear water with a light sky and I'm wondering if they just didn't see it or they had that much of a color preference? If its working I guess I shouldn't change, but I might try a black Twister Tail too. Do crappies like black lures in your experience?

Crappie are eating machines. They will take almost any color but black seems to be one they like at least around Lake Champlain. Pink is always good especially in the spring.

Somebody say crappie?? Caught these yesterday. Nothing but minnows for us this time of year.

How were you fishing?

I always start with a purple and white tube jig. Will change if needed. This is in Oxbow lakes. Clearer water and they don't work as good. Need other colors, white works a lot of the time. miles

Should have added that I like minnows too. miles

Minnows hooked through the lips on a 2/0 gold Eagle Claw, a 0 size split shot.

Dipping trees in 10-15 FOW. Most fish caught within 2' of bottom. The lake we fish is 40sh years old with a ton of standing timber.

Here is the biggest of the day. I am guessing 14-15" fish. Best I have caught this year.

Looks like i am holding him out but my buddy he the camera crammed in my face w the fish, didn't want it on the end of my nose.