LOCATION: In most cases, pond fishing means fishing from the shore. Ponds don’t always have these features, but look around the perimeter for cover & shade like docks, overhanging bushes, or fallen trees over deeper water. Quick drop offs near the shore with some overhanging bushes are ideal. Bait fish prefer those spots as well, so if you see minnows and other prey fish congregating, that’s where you want to drop a line. If you see a likely spot, move quietly into position -- crappie are very aware of what’s going on around the pond and they’ll clear out if they sense danger. If your pond doesn’t have much to offer in the way of shore cover, look for deeper spots with underwater cover. CONDITIONS: Crappie love to hunt when the sunlight is not too bright and temperatures are not too warm. That means in shade on the bright days, while on overcast days and the hours near dusk and dawn, crappie will venture out further. Even nighttime fishing is an option - live bait is your best bet in these circumstances since colorful jigs won’t have much impact without at least some light. Crappie prefer moderate water temperatures, so in milder seasons, you can fish shallow, but during summer & winter try going deeper. No matter your climate, in the coldest days of winter, head for the deepest parts of the pond where the water is not exposed to the cold air above and drop your bait right down to the bottom.
BAIT: Crappie are sight feeders, so in relatively clear water, natural bait like minnows, worms & insects are great options, although minnows are the most popular. Alternatively, Berkley Gulp! Minnows are increasingly popular and are highly recommended by many anglers. They produce an attractive scent and look very lifelike (and they don’t die or spoil). In ponds, water is not always very clear, and you may find that brightly colored or high contrast jigs will do a better job of catching a crappie’s eye. Every angler has their own favorite colors and will swear on one combination that another calls worthless. Fortunately, jigs are cheap enough that you can bring along a good variety and experiment until you find the favorite “flavor of the day.” FISH: Consider the pond you’re fishing in. If you or your buddies are regularly pulling out 15” crappie or larger, then size your rig accordingly and enjoy the day. However, many ponds will have an overabundance of smaller fish, which should be aggressively thinned out so the larger fish have adequate food to keep growing to the size you crave. If you’re faced with removing an overabundance of smaller fish, remember that they’re accustomed to eating smaller food, and size your gear down to ultralight. Don’t be fooled by the catch-and-release mantra where you must return them and give them a chance to get big. Too many smaller fish will just keep everything small and skinny.