Best Places to Use a Crappie Jig

Crappie jigs are awesome!  You can catch crappie, bass, and even catfish with them.  The key is to know where to use them.

Crappie jigs are best used in deep water around structure.  There are three main types of structure that fit the bill:  docks, bridges, and dams.

A set of docs in close proximity, such as the one pictured below, is ideal.

Here's the proof.

When it comes to bridges, nothing is more ideal than a pedestrian bridge such as the one pictured below.

Last but not least, there's the dam.  Some dams on smaller lakes, such as the one below, can simply be walked as you jig.

Yes, that's a catfish that hit a crappie jig.  I also caught a bass and a crappie with the same lure!

So keep a crappie jig tied on one of your poles.  When you see a doc, a bridge, or a dam, hit it up!

Tight lines!

Best Way to Identify Crappie

Crappie, bluegill, and sunfish are all included in a group of called panfish. They have a lot of similarities in appearance, but it's important to know when you have a crappie versus another type of panfish.

This is especially true here in Texas, where crappie are considered game fish but bluegill and sunfish are not.  Bluegill and sunfish are good cut bait for catfish.  It is absolutely illegal to use crappie as bait.

Let's start with comparing a crappie and a sunfish.  In the photo below, the crappie is on top and the sunfish is on bottom.

Now let's compare a crappie and a bluegill.  Again, the crappie is on top.

Notice that in the case of sunfish and bluegill, there is a distinctive black spot on the bottom rear corner of the dorsal fin that the crappie does not have.  I'll let you study the pictures to note other differences.  Now you can catch panfish with confidence!

The fish pictured were released.  Tight lines!