Ice Fishing for Black Crappie - Quest 29 of 50
Channel: T Fish
Date: 2018-01-23

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First off, crappie is pronounced crop - ee.  Not crap - ee.  I've heard people pronounce this wonderful fish's name wrong too many times.  Get it right, people!

I'm on a quest to catch 50 different species of fish while filming in my home state of Wisconsin.  On today's adventure, just like my last one, I was trying to catch a crappie.  However, the weather outside was frightful.  It was raining, and making videos while it rains is a difficult proposition.  I went out there anyways trying my best to catch a crappie in the crappy weather, and along the way I fixed a toilet seat.  Quite the adventure, I know.

Here's my tips on crappie fishing.  First, find out if the area you are planning on fishing holds crappies.  If the lake has no crappies, don't fish for them there!  I asked around, and I knew this little lake had crappie.  When I got there, I drilled several holes, going from shallow water and worked my way out to deeper water.  I caught my crappie in about 15 feet of water.  The best crappie lure I have is just a small tungsten jig.  It's heavier than a normal jig, so it gets down deeper quicker, and I can feel a bite easier with it.

For those that are new to ice fishing, without electronics, I suggest taking a simple approach.  Drill multiple holes, going from shallower water to deeper water.  Start jigging in the shallow water first, and move out until you find fish that are biting.  That's what I do, and it's worked for me.  Also, I get a good workout in drilling holes with my hand ice auger.  I'm so lucky!

I was using wax worms.  They are also called grubs.  I use a small tungsten jig and put the wax worm on the hook.  I've caught several different species of fish ice fishing this way: Pumpkinseed (also known as Sunfish) Bluegill, Perch, Largemouth Bass, and... wait for it...  CRAPPIE!