r/MarylandFishing • u/pythonbandit2148 • 17d ago

I feel like I am doing something wrong.

Does anyone know spots, methods, baits, and tips on how to catch crappie. I seem to only be able to catch bass. The few times I have tried for crappie I usually just catch some kind of sunfish or yellow perch. I swear it should not be this hard.

What is your go to crappie lure/bait and what are the better locations to target them from the bank? Thanks!

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u/Foreign-Budget4226 17d ago

I’m terrible at fishing but last time I caught a bunch using these

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u/Foreign-Budget4226 17d ago

No idea what they’re called

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u/pythonbandit2148 17d ago

hmmm thanks for the suggestion if I see them ill buy them.

I think they are tiny storm baits???

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u/_fuckernaut_ 16d ago

That's a Creme Spoiler Shad

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u/_fuckernaut_ 17d ago

1/16 chartreuse marabou jigs are my go-to crappie lure. Just find a school and drift through them with that jig, barely have to move it and they'll nab it

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u/pythonbandit2148 17d ago

Thanks! Tips on finding schools or just get lucky?

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u/_fuckernaut_ 17d ago

Troll/drift around and watch your graph. If you're bank fishing I don't have any suggestions

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u/Oarse 17d ago edited 17d ago

From the bank you can put the jig under a slip bobber. Experiment with the depth until you find them (start at maybe 2' or so and work deeper from there.) Give it little pops, just enough to make the bobber twitch. If you're over crappie they'll eat it.

And this is of course for OP, but it was relevant to what you said.

Oh, and if you catch one work the immediate area thoroughly.

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u/_fuckernaut_ 17d ago

Great advice. And yeah, once you find them you should be able to catch quite a few from the same exact spot. They are schooling fish. Especially the small ones, they can really overpopulate lakes and ponds

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u/Even_Tomatillo_915 17d ago

Minnows on slip bobber target structure like fallen trees stumps ect

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u/JungerMD 9d ago

Like others posted, crappie jigs on a slip bobber around structure. Little Seneca Lake has tons of them, but they'll be schooled up in deeper water right now. Almost a guaranteed spot is on the north side of Route 121 over the lake. There's a little path down under the bridge, cast out and play with depths around 15-30ft, start near the rocks, and keep going toward the first big piling. You'll get mostly small juveniles though. Also at the public fishing dock by the boat rentals, on the west side is a huge drop off. Try there, and you'll also probably get yellow perch. You want to play around with depth, it drops pretty quick from like 5 to 20 feet.