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Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus · also: crapet, papermouth, speck (in the south)

Spring shallow-water fun on tiny jigs under floats; deeper brush and timber the rest of the year.

Where to find them

Southern Ontario (Rideau, Kawarthas, Lake St. Clair), southern Quebec, Lake Winnipeg, prairie reservoirs, BC's lower Fraser.

Rigs by season

SeasonWhere and what to tie
Spring (Apr–May)Shallow bays with wood and reeds as water hits 12–15°C. Slip bobber with a 1/32 oz jig or minnow.
Summer/FallSuspended near brush piles and deep weed edges. Vertical jigging, slip bobbers set deep.
WinterSuspended over basins. Tiny tungsten jigs and spikes.

Gear

Light 6'6"–7' rod, 4–6 lb line, small jigs and a sensitive float.

Bait and lures

Small minnows, 1.5–2" tube and curly-tail jigs in white, chartreuse and pink.

Tips

  • Set the hook gently; "papermouth" is earned.
  • Slow-fall presentations outfish fast ones.

Rigs for black crappie

6 rigs

Slip Bobber Rig diagramMono 6–8 lbBobber stop (sets depth)BeadSlip float (slides)Split shot12–18"Octopus hook + leech

Slip Bobber Rig

A bobber stop, a bead and a sliding float let you fish live bait at any exact depth and still cast easily. The rig that puts walleye in the boat on rock reefs at dusk.

walleyeBeginnerWalleyeBlack Crappie
Fixed Bobber Rig diagramMono 4–6 lbClip-on float (fixed)1–4 ftSplit shot6–10"#6–#10 hook + worm

Fixed Bobber Rig

A clip-on float, a split shot and a baited hook. The rig that catches everyone their first fish off a dock — and still fills a bucket with perch and sunfish.

panfishBeginnerSunfish & Rock BassYellow Perch
Jig and Minnow diagramMono/fluoro 6–8 lbPalomar or loop knotJighead 1/4 ozMinnow hooked up through the lips

Jig and Minnow

A lead-head jig with a live minnow hooked through the lips. The rig for spring walleye in the rivers and fall walleye on the reefs, from the Bay of Quinte to the Winnipeg River.

walleyeBeginnerWalleyeSauger
Split-Shot Rig diagramMono 4–6 lbSplit shot (1–2)12–18"#6–#10 baitholder + worm

Split-Shot Rig

One or two split shot pinched on the line above a small baited hook. The simplest bottom rig there is and the standard for drifting worms for stream trout.

troutBeginnerTrout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Lake)Yellow Perch
Hi-Lo Rig (Dropper Loop Rig) diagramMain line Barrel swivelDropper loop #1Hook12–18"Dropper loop #2Hook8–10"Bell sinker

Hi-Lo Rig (Dropper Loop Rig)

A sinker at the bottom and one or two hooks on dropper loops above it. Two baits at two depths, perfect for perch schools and bottom feeders, and it drops straight down through an ice hole.

panfishIntermediateYellow PerchChannel Catfish
Ice Jigging Rig diagramIce fluoro / braid Micro swivelFluoro leader 12–24"Jigging spoon + minnow head

Ice Jigging Rig

A light braid or fluoro main line, a small swivel to kill twist, a short fluoro leader and a jigging spoon, tungsten jig or lipless bait tipped with a minnow head. The active rig for hole-hopping walleye, perch and crappie.

iceBeginnerWalleyeYellow Perch