crappie Archives - Page 23 of 26 - Mississippi Sportsman

Male white crappie are starting to turn black, their mating color. It's a sign the spawn is about to turn on in most of Mississippi's crappie hot spots.

Signs the spawn is about to turn on

April 11, 2013 Bobby Cleveland

Wednesday (April 10) was the day that crappie fishermen started reporting the first true sign that the spawn is imminent at most of Mississippi’s perch-jerking hot spots. […]

Crappie anglers have been waiting on some warm weather to push fish into the shallows for the spawn, and it looks like that's finally going to happen.

Crappie forecast: 80-degree fun ahead

April 5, 2013 Bobby Cleveland

The weather crappie fishermen have been waiting for is finally in the long-range forecast for next week, and that has them ready to dance a jig. […]

Rabbit Rogers of Brandon weighs a 2 ½-pound female caught during the spawn on Barnett Reservoir at the lower end of the I-55 crappie corridor. A reason why this interstate highway should still be called a “Super Slab.”

Mississippi home to five of nation’s top 50 crappie lakes

April 2, 2013 Bobby Cleveland

Back in the CB radio era, interstate highways were nicknamed “superslabs.” […]

Pat Jeffcoats and Rabbit Rogers toughed it out on a miserable, snowy day to place second with 15.45 pounds that included a 2.95-pound kicker.

Premier crappie lake gives up nine 3-pounders at tourney

April 1, 2013 Paul Johnson

Last month I told you about the Magnolia Crappie Club tournament at Sardis. I want to use the March 2 Lake Washington tournament as the backdrop for this month’s column. Both tournament experiences are unique and were great fun. […]

Spring Fling — Catching limits of crappie is the norm at Okatibbee Lake this month

April 1, 2013 Michael O. Giles

Okatibbee Lake has changed over recent years, but not the reservoir’s incredible crappie fishing. Here’s how to fill the boat. […]

Bay Springs crappie guide Wayne Inman indicated that the typical spring crappie hotspots on the north end of the lake are starting to heat up.

Bay Springs crappie on the rise

March 19, 2013 Phillip Gentry

Though it seems that the late arriving winter is reluctant to release its grip this year, Bay Springs crappie guide Wayne Inman (662-416-1296) indicates that the prime season for catching slab crappie from the upper Tenn-Tom Waterway lake is right around the corner.

“Water temperatures in the back of most of the northerly coves have reached 57 degrees,” said Inman. “The main lake is still 47, which is helping to push the fish shallow. Right now males are being caught in 3-4 feet of water using small crappie jigs.” […]

One of the most productive prespawn crappie patterns in Mississippi is fishing outside the timber of the old lake beds on Barnett Reservoir. It is a March favorite for Rabbit Rogers, who is shown hauling in a fat and sassy female from 12 feet of water.

Prespawn crappie bite has begun

March 8, 2013 Bobby Cleveland

Fishermen wasted little time, hitting the water Thursday in numbers surprising for a supposed workday. That’s what you get when it’s the first day in over a week when weather would allow for safe boating access.

And the reports from crappie anglers were to be expected — good. […]

A new 11-inch minimum length limit on crappie at Sardis Lake goes into effect March 21, which will please fishermen like Rabbit Rogers.

New crappie minimum length at Sardis adjusted to 11 inches

March 2, 2013 Bobby Cleveland

For the second time in two months, state wildlife officials have announced a change in crappie fishing limits at Sardis Lake in North Mississippi. […]

March across Mississippi means it’s time to stand toe-to-toe in waist deep water, engaged in hand-to-hand combat with slab crappie.

Waist Deep in Slabs — Where to find wade-fishing hotspots for crappie

March 1, 2013 Phillip Gentry

While many Mississippi sportsmen enjoy a number of hunting and fishing pursuits, every outdoorsman has a favorite. It might be sitting in a stand waiting on that big buck to come strolling by; it might be sitting with your back to a tree, listening to a big gobbler come thundering up a draw; or it might be the sizzling scream of a reel when a trophy largemouth gets its first glimpse of the boat. […]

To find crappie while wading, guide John Harrison follows the ditches.

Best wading spots for crappie fishing

March 1, 2013 Phillip Gentry

• Lake Washington — Either end of the oxbow tapers out to a flat that contains a lot of cypress trees and stumps. These areas may be accessible by foot. The inside bends of Lake Washington make up an entire flat area; some areas are better than others. […]

Crappie anglers who love the shallow-water wading bite with the range and versatility of boating can try kayak fishing.

Kayaking vs. wade-fishing

March 1, 2013 Phillip Gentry

As the waters rise in the spring on Mississippi waters, backwaters in creek arms begin to swell and grant access to old sloughs and run-offs scattered along these waterways. […]

Crappie Time TV show host Ronnie Capps claims regardless of how you get to the wading flats, you’ll still be limited to the amount of gear you can carry.

Best crappie wade-fishing equipment

March 1, 2013 Phillip Gentry

Whether you decide to chase spawning crappie on foot, from an ATV or paddle after them in a kayak, each tactic limits the angler to only what he or she can reasonably carry. […]