Minnows
Minnows are small fish that form schools along the banks and coastlines of freshwater and saltwater sources. Fathead minnows are available through bait dealers, commercial fish hatcheries as well as feed and grain stores. Thread a small spinner onto your hook, approximately 6 inches above a 2- to 3-inch minnow or minnow lure and cast your line. Tip your rod as you cast off the line to create water disturbance and attract crappie.
Worms
Crappie feed on an assortment of worms including night crawlers, plastic worms, honey worms and red worms. Be mindful of your presentation when fishing with worms. As a general rule, slow down, speed up, twitch and change your bait frequently. Choose worm colors based on water conditions. For clear and lightly stained water, jig an earth worm to your line and fish it close to the bottom. For dark or muddy waters, opt for a red worm. Bait a black or brown plastic worm on a cloudy day. It is recommended to save your honey worms for bright, sunny days.
Spinners
When fishing with a spinner use the smallest size you can find. The 1/16-ounce beetle spin is an example of a small sized spinner with superior striking action. Gold blades generally deliver a greater number of strikes than silver ones. Whichever you choose, stick with a small blade. Other spinners to use include the small willow leaf blade, which is most effective with a 2-inch tube bait or curly tail. The small silver Colorado blade is ideal for water disturbance and can be fished slowly. Rig with 2-inch tube bait and use in very muddy dark water. The small gold blade is a small, gold, Colorado blade with a 1/32-oz. jig head and a hot-colored 2-inch tube bait.
