In fact, it can even be more fun and productive because there are fewer people out on the lakes and rivers making noise and scaring off the crappie. This means fewer distractions, less competition and better results for each fishing trip.



One thing that discourages anglers from fishing for crappie in the fall is the fact that they are more scattered out during this time of year than at any other time. This makes them a little harder to find. They are also more unpredictable so you may have to work a little harder but this just makes it more of a challenge and more rewarding.

In the fall the water temperature eventually becomes the same at all depths and the oxygen levels are higher so the crappie could be at any depth at any given time. This makes finding the crappie the hardest thing for the crappie fisherman to do.

However, don't let this discourage you. With a few fall crappie fishing techniques you can increase the number of crappie that you reel in during any fishing trip.

Techniques for Fall Crappie Fishing

Fall crappie fishing techniques include a variety of things such as knowing what types of baits work the best. Everyone will agree that crappies are most attracted to minnows. In the fall when they are preparing for the long winter months ahead they will be searching for this food source.

When using artificial lures it is suggested that you stay under three inches in length. In most areas a one or two inch artificial minnow would work the best. You can also catch crappie with worms and crayfish. If you do use live bait make sure you keep it in a cooler and try to keep them as lively as possible for the best results.

You can catch crappie anytime during the day or night but the most productive times are usually at night. This is because the fish feed more aggressively during the late evening to early morning hours. Using an artificial light to draw the crappie to your position is a great technique used for night fishing.

The light attracts insects and bait fish that will in turn attract the crappie and draw them in your direction.

If you are fishing in an area where the visibility is low you can receive the best results with lures that make sound. These will cause vibrations in the water that will attract the crappie or you can use something with a strong odor.

When fishing in clear water crappie plugs, small jigs, bladebaits and spoons work very well. As a general rule jigs and minnows are normally the best to use. Sometimes combining these two together will attract the crappie much faster than using them alone, especially in the fall.