Fishing Lures 101

There are hundreds of types of types of fishing lures, with thousands of disparity within each group. But lures are more than just shiny and wobbly spoons and jigs. There is a real science that goes into the making of each one.

The concept is the same no matter the design; to imitate as close to reality a wounded baitfish or prey. The diversity of the ways used to imitate prey over the centuries is astounding when you think about it. Flies alone have been around since the end of the 17th century (however there may be evidence that similar devices were used as early as 200 AD).

Here is a high level description of the more common fishing lures and the characteristics that help make them successful.

Spoons are shaped (as the name suggests) as a spoon Looking at them in your tackle box you not expect them to be overly effective at catching fish. But when they're in motion in the water, they do an amazing job imitating a wounded baitfish. A hook (normally a three-pronged treble) is secured at the bottom and the weight of the lure makes it ideal for casting and trolling. Spoons are especially effective on northern pike, a variety of trout and bass.

Plugs and Crankbaits are often shaped like minnows and can sport hooks at the front, middle and end of the body (depending on the length). They may be anywhere from an inch to eight inches long and do a masterful job of imitating a distressed fish. There are a wide variety of plugs; some of them float on the surface and dive when reeled in, while others are weighted for fishing at deeper levels. Plugs (often called crankbaits) are very popular with walleye fisherman, pike fisherman and bass fisherman.

Spinners are designed for slow trolling and casting and do what their name suggests - they spin. The flash of the lure and the vibrations they emanate can bring trout, walleye and a variety of other predator fish from afar. These fishing lures come in a wide variety of sizes and colors because they have mass appeal with a variety of different species. Spinners typically have a centralized body with loops at both ends for attaching line and hook. When dragged through the water, a shiny blade spins around the body attracting predator fish.

Jigs are particularly effective at catching walleye, perch and a variety of fish. Often made of a lead blob the shape of a small fish head, they have an eye at one end and a hook at the other. Often suited with a rubber tail or bait (minnows, leeches and night crawlers are the most common) the jig is a favorite fishing lure for many anglers.

Whether made of metal, plastic or the most exotic material around (any you can imagine has been tried), lures are the business to catch fish, period. Match the right lure to the body of water you are fishing, and you will have a day full of lasting memories.

Thanks for reading.
Good fishing.

By Rhett Wallace

Check out one of Canada's best fishing resources at http://www.freshwater-fishing-canada.com/ We love fishing and it shows!

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What Bait to Use During Your Halibut Fishing Run

It may be as easy as attaching a head of a mackerel on a line and throwing it overboard; but then again, it may not be that easy at all. Halibut fishing need not be an overly complicated process but you may want to reconsider "traditional" bait for less conventional baits, especially if the fish isn't biting. Believe it or not, you do not need to buy those expensive lures; nor do you need to learn a new fishing technique. What you have now may work fine. However there is a bit of sprucing up to do when it comes to your halibut feeding education. For this, you would need: a bit of research on the fishing area, some prep, and a lot of time on your hands.

The fishing ground

The actual location of the fishing ground dictates what sells and what does not sell with the sand dwelling halibut. You do have to remember that the fish adapts to what is currently available in the open waters. Although the halibut is notorious for being an opportunistic feeder, this does not mean that it will lose its caution when introduced to a "new" meal.

Try to see what marine creatures are most abundant in the fishing grounds. It is with all likelihood that the halibut will be feeding on these as well. So if you bait your line with one or two of these creatures (or make lures that "act" similar to these); your chances of landing several fish is good. If you want to land a really big monster, experts are saying that you need to have larger bait as well.

One more thing, seasons bring changes in the available food for the halibuts. So what may have been successful baits for the last few seasons may not be "attractive" baits now. Your catch may just have shifted to an entirely new diet.

Preparation counts a lot

An ill-prepared fisherman is a poor fisherman indeed. And that maxim is true for anglers too. If you really want to score several large halibuts, you really need to prepare big time. First of all, as stated above, you need to know the exact bait you should be using. If you have done your research correctly, you will know that some bait shops in and around the fishing area may not be able to supply you all the things you need. In which case, try to pack (from home or en route to the fishing grounds) everything you might possibly need on a day out on the water. Lines, hooks and weights are essential, of course. The question is: are you keeping your catch or are you releasing them afterwards?

The J hook would be more advisable if you are performing the former, while the circle hook will be more beneficial (to the fish) if you are performing the latter. Also try using a fine mesh net only when it comes to halibut fishing. The delicate tail fins of the fish are bound to get damaged in the larger meshed nets.

Enjoying your time on the water

Fishing entails a lot of presence. Halibuts are known to "inhale" attractive bait in an instant. But sometimes, the fish needs more time to be coaxed into actually taking the bait. Just sit back and enjoy whatever view you have. If you do all these things, you might just have a great closing entry for your day: preferably a monster halibut on your deck.

By Rick John Jenkins

To find the best Alaska Fishing Lodge please visit http://www.bestalaskafishingtrips.com

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Worm Fishing - Tips For Successful Angling

For me there has never been a better way to catch fish, especially in the current of small rivers and streams, than worm fishing. As you can probably tell this article isn't about the worm fishing that bass anglers engage in, but rather traditional worm fishing with as Hank Hill once called them good old American worms. As a matter of fact there have been some breakthroughs in technology and Berkley makes Powerbait and Gulp worms that are every bit as effective as real worms. This article is about worm fishing with either live or synthetic worms such as Gulp night crawlers.

In this article you will learn some great tips for successful angling with worms. These tips were both taught to me by my fishing mentor (the best worm angler I've ever known) and learned through personal experience over the last 25 years of fishing. These tips are effective and they will make anyone a much more successful angler.

Most of these tips are best employed in the flowing waters of either small rivers or streams, although they can be easily modified for most any worm fishing situation. Remember there is no tip as effective as spending time on the water practicing your craft. Spending time fishing is the best way to learn to catch more fish, and these tips will most certainly help as well.

1. Deep Water Is Your Friend - In any small river or stream there will be a series of riffles (shallow water), runs (deeper flowing water), and pools(the deepest water with least current). Most fish will be found in deeper water most of the time. This isn't always the case, but it's a good rule to start with. The deeper flowing water of runs are a great place to fish with worms as bait.

2. Bottom Is Your Friend - When worm fishing you will have the most success when your worm is bouncing along the bottom naturally, with the current. The best way to accomplish this is to attach your hooks to your line using a small barrel swivel and use small slit shot sinkers as weight. Split shot are then added or removed depending on the depth of the water and current flow to keep your offering bouncing along the bottom.

3. Gang Hooks Are Your Friend - When worm fishing one of the most important points is that your bait look as natural as possible. You want your worm to look like, well a worm, and this is accomplished through the use of gang hooks. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem which enable worms to be presented in an outstretched and natural manner.

4. Clean Hands Are Your Friend - Any scents that are on your hands will transfer to your worm and cost you bites. This is especially true with larger, more experienced fish. For this reason you want to make sure that your hands are free from any unnatural scents. This can be accomplished either by using odor neutralizing soap or by rubbing your hands in a handful of grass or dirt before baiting up. Clean hands make a difference when worm fishing.

Use one or all of these tips sooner rather than later and you will become a much more successful worm angler. Worm fishing is every bit the 'art form' that other forms of fishing have been proclaimed to be if you take it seriously. You can become a master worm fisherman, just like you can become a master painter. All that's necessary is practice and determination.

By Trevor Kugler

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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Special Winter Carp Fishing Tackle and Bait Tips!

Winter carp fishing can very often be more productive in many ways with less anglers on the bank and more possibility of multiple catches of fish in a very short space of time. Prepare well for big rewards in winter and spring and some of the biggest fish can be yours now so read on!

When water temperatures drop to under about 16 degrees Celsius carp metabolism and feeding is markedly affected leading to changes in behaviours that differ to summer for example. We can exploit such changes and make winter catches much easier. For instance, the first winter I seriously winter fished almost no carp were caught during certain months, but the syndicate members on this lake were just getting started.

While at Agricultural College in the early and mid-eighties I recall using the UK meteorological office data from the previous 30 years on winter temperatures. I used this to help me chart winter temperatures and pressures and spot current patterns to exploit in terms of best probable fish feeding conditions.

In doing this I guess I may have been described as one of those who accidentally noticed the effects of global warming but the sudden rise of winter temperatures I noticed at that time and ever since that time really had me puzzled. When global warming was being discussed as an issue and not yet accepted as fact back in the early nineties I already knew a cover-up was taking place!

In fact as I worked outside for my living for majority of the past 30 years and rain patterns, dry spells, extremes of temperature and these effects on plants and animals just cannot be ignored. I began seeing the warmer seasons extending, starting earlier and ending later with some winters with such little frost that certain deciduous trees and shrubs actually kept some of their leaves on all the way from summer to late spring.

Much as I thought warmer winter temperatures for carp fishing was a good thing at the time, it has in fact meant for many that winter fishing has become harder due to various factors. At many waters, the traditional late autumn feed in preparation for the onset of winter seems now to be much less noticeable, or much earlier than before. September can be even more productive now and Late April and May are 2 periods I am especially keen to exploit now.

Everyone is now aware of altered migrations of birds now and to see roses in full bloom in the UK and geraniums lasting outside in sheltered microclimate positions for instance are now more common signs we are moving towards a more Mediterranean climate. Some common birds species are not even wasting energy by migrating for the winter and are remaining in various locations in the UK all winter!

The mass use of high oil highly nutritious fish meal boilies and marine halibut pellets for instance definitely has provided UK cap with far higher levels of stored energy reserves. This can mean reduced requirement for many fish to feed during the colder months. Despite the possibility of reduced feeding due to such enormous mass use of high energy pellets for instance at most carp waters, incredible winter catches are there to be had for everyone and every fish is an individual with different needs.

It is not uncommon to catch winter and spring carp covered in leeches and with leeches inside their mouths that have build-up as a result of very low carp activity levels. You will notice too that often the colour of winter carp are fantastic. It perhaps is no coincidence that antioxidant additives and substances that contain colour pigments that boost the immune system are very successful in winter time.

In winter you need bait that will not fill fish up prematurely and stop them feeding. What you need is food that is very highly digestible with excellent soluble nutritional attraction. (I include in the attraction of highly potent antioxidant substances.)

Spices and herbs and many other natural products packed with bioactive and antioxidant substances are really well proven in low temperatures, and a whole new generation of baits and bait and ground bait-making ingredients are now available and especially good for winter use.

Milk powders have always been great in winter and products like supermarket milk powders and also Vitamealo for example are great in hook baits and ground baits, spod and stick mixes and paste etc. Although many anglers discuss the advantages or disadvantages of milks in terms of how far carp digestion might actually deal with their elements, milk ingredients have been in use in most of the leading readymade carp baits for decades for very good reasons. (Some of these have nothing to do with nutrition at all!)

Soluble nutritional attraction is vital and the predigested additives and ingredients in winter baits can make all the difference. Summer boilies designs that are high in predigested protein ingredients that last just 3 hours on an immersed hair-rig in warm water, might well last 6 hours in winter conditions. A mixture of 50 percent whole egg powder with Vitamealo, and fermented shrimp powder (European) from Ccmoore for instance, makes a great bait especially with their Marine Amino Compound at the rate of 30 millilitres per kilogram of bait for instance.

Fish can move so slowly and so little in winter it is amazing we get any bites at all sometimes. Moving your baits every hours on a water searching out every possible spot, is often much better than casting out and waiting for bites from fish that may be in the vicinity, but just will not move!

Even 30 years ago it was common for me to catch fish in winter on rigs I knew were probably tangled (this was before the predominant usage of rig tubing, lead core leaders etc.) I was unwilling to move these rigs however, having cast them exactly onto known tight feeding spots. Many of these tangled rigs were effectively only 2 or 3 inches long at best but they more often than not caught fish.

It reminds me of the short length of the now popular so-called helicopter style chod rigs for example, where the hook link is very short. Years ago I used light leads mostly under 2 ounces in weight and I found the fluted flat-bottomed Arlesey bomb types of 2 ounces or under to be great fish hookers. These would end up in a tangled rig frequently, but would often not bury themselves deep in bottom silt and the short tangled rigs teamed with 5 bait stringers really worked!

I recall cutting special roller wheels for my Optonic bite alarms that had about 24 slender arms to trigger the light beam inside and indicate the least possible lime movement from very shy biting carp in winter. Using the higher vibration and sensitivity settings on modern digital alarms for example and exploiting new refined bite indicators with adjustable line pressures etc, all add up to more winter fish!

Location is of paramount importance and that is all about knowing your lake at all times of year and only personal experience can give you an instinct for this and sometimes you are right and other times wrong, perhaps due to changes in fishing pressure on a particular area, pre-baiting by other anglers, or slightly different prevalent autumn winds building-up silt and carp food items in different locations to previous years.

Fish location is an art form that requires extremely sharp senses sometimes but you can leverage bating and lines and bite alarms to locate your fish. Often in winter you might get not a single bite sound from your bite alarm. Casting around until you do get some kind of feedback is very useful indeed and from this you might locate fish, or fresh silk weed, green Canadian pond weed, or even bloodworm.

If you know your swims in very great detail and keep this knowledge very regularly up-dated, then you will also notice changes in the bottom silt and in leaf and other detritus or chod deposits. Use of a braided line and specially grooved feature-finding leads to feel for clay, gravel and silt characteristics that indicate positive changes made by carp activity are invaluable.

The lake bed hardness and textures and even depths and consistencies and smells of silts can very frequently be caused by feeding carp and be identified and exploited. Some of the changes in the bottom of a lake caused by carp activities can be far beyond the belief of the average angler! Location of certain of these features have lead to great breakthroughs in winter and early spring fishing results for me for sure.

One prominent example of the nature of winter fish location was while fishing an exposed and apparently featureless clay lined reservoir. I remember fishing 2 baits on a particular spot in a swim in early February following a period when there had not been a single carp caught for 5 weeks. This spot was only place discovered to produce fish on the whole lake for quite a while so it was kept very quiet! Using a knowledge of the food-rich thick weed beds that existed in warmer months, I could locate the edges and channels made by the old weed beds that fish used to navigate and feed along.

Much repeated casting was required to get the baited rigs tight up against the old dead weed on the bottom were the fish would feed. Often of 2 rigs cast out (less than 3 feet apart,) only 1 rod would consistently produce fish 99 percent of the time indicating the fish travelled to this spot from one angle and on a very tight path. On one occasion this spot produced 4 fish in just under an hour for me, which was a very rare winter achievement at this time on the water.

As an experiment a friend cast his rod into the spot from a different swim having blanked for days and had a take before even putting his rod in rests. Such is the nature of winter fishing!

Winter fish can feed like clockwork in various spots habitually, and inducing and exploiting this behaviour with pre-baiting is a massive edge if you have the discipline to do it regularly enough! Pre-baiting holding areas and areas that you have observed fish visiting and feeding in winter such as snags and reed beds, and swims that are warmed by afternoon sun for instance, can really make catches very much easier.

Using particle type baits and finer ground baits can be a great option in winter and you can soak them in all kinds of additives and liquids you would use for boilies. Some substances are ideally suited for maximum effective water dispersal and fish feeding stimulation in low water temperatures.

Using your own creative thinking is a very big edge most especially in regards to bait and its application at this time; when some of the biggest carp in your water are most vulnerable to capture...

By Tim Richardson.

By Tim F. Richardson

Now why not seize this moment to improve your catches for life with these unique fishing bibles: "BIG CARP FLAVOURS AND FEEDING TRIGGER SECRETS!" "BIG CARP AND CATFISH BAIT SECRETS!" And "BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!" For much more now visit: http://www.baitbigfish.com Home of world-wide proven readymade and homemade bait success secrets bibles!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_F._Richardson

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Trout Or Steelhead Fishing - Tips on How to Make Several Great Catches

Trying your hand on trout or steelhead fishing for the first time can be a really great experience, since this type of fish can really put up a spectacular fight. However, if you are harboring notions about getting your fishing gear wet in Alaskan waters as your baptism of fire, you might want to backtrack a bit. Although a 7-pound steelhead may not seem such a big thing to handle, Alaskan trout or steelhead fishing regulations are very stringent; and you need to successfully return your catch to the open waters with minimal damage to the fish.

Try catching first one or two steelheads from a freshwater stream as a practice before moving on to the Alaskan fishing grounds. This way, you have some working knowledge on how to catch, unhook, and release a live one back in the water. Here are some trout or steelhead fishing tips for beginners.

1. Wear the clothes. Naturally, you can wear plain tees and jeans when you fish. You can wear your sneakers and have your iPod attached to your arm as well. However, when the fish starts moving away from the shorelines, and into the deeper waters, then you have nothing but your iPod to keep you company. You do have to remember that when it comes to fishing trout and steelheads, these animals like moving in the coldest parts of the rivers. If you are trying to catch one during the fish's annual migratory runs, then you may need to wade into that water yourself. Try to bring along a good pair of waders, preferably something made from neoprene. A 5-millimeter material should provide you both buoyancy and warmth. Keep the iPod at home. You need to be able to hear your surroundings clearly.

2. Bring the proper equipment. If you are fly fishing for the first time, then bring a 2- handed rod that measures 12 to15 feet as your choice of equipment. You can use the floating lines if you want to fish on the surface (a process called nipping) or use a sinking line if you would rather catch steelheads from the shallower areas of the river (a process called swinging or swinging in a streamer.) Your best lures would be bait made of cured steelhead chunks, salmon eggs, or sand shrimp.

3.You can also use artificial lures that mimic the erratic movements of crustaceans or the colorful outer layers of fish and amphibian eggs. Using nets on these delicate fishes is really never a great option. So in case you were able to snag one, try to keep the fish on the line for as long as possible. This tires the fish out, which makes it easier for you to haul it to the surface.

4. There are two things you might want to do in case the fishes are not biting. One: change positions often. Keep moving to potentially great location. Steelheads are quick to learn which parts of the river usually attract the most predators, and will most likely avoid those areas. If you can wade out into the wade, wade carefully so as not to spook your quarry away. You can also move upstream in case you find yourself in the opposite direction of the water's movements. During the migratory runs, all the fishes will be heading upstream anyway. You might as well wait for them there.

5. Lastly, practice the catch and release fishing method here. You have to remember to keep the fish out of the water for only a short period of time, and handle your catch delicately. It is also essential to keep your hands wet to minimize the friction on the steelhead flesh. Be extra gentle when it comes to removing the hook from the fish's mouthparts. And slide your catch gently back into the water.

By Rick John Jenkins

To find the best Alaska Fishing Lodge please visit http://www.bestalaskafishingtrips.com

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The Best Bait - Is There a Best Fishing Bait?

If you've been fishing for any period of time you must realize that the question posed in the title of this article is all but unanswerable. There is probably no best fishing bait, but rather there are individual anglers favorite bait for fishing. The bottom line is that the best fishing bait is largely up to individual preference. If you've had personal success with a certain bait, that bait will be your 'best fishing bait'.

In this article I'm going to list some of the most popular and effective baits for fishing and some tips on fishing them. You can then draw your own conclusions as to which of these bait's is the best. Sometimes the bait isn't the issue as much as the way in which it's fished. After reading this article you'll get some valuable tips for fishing your bait in the most effective manner.

Let's get down to business, shall we?

1. Live Minnows - One of the most popular and effective fishing baits in the world are live minnows. Crappie and walleye fishermen are very aware of using live minnows as bait. The most popular method for fishing live minnows is to tip jigs with them. Live minnows rigged on a set of gang hooks is also an effective fishing tactic. The downside of fishing with live minnows is carrying them around. Minnow buckets are bulky and inconvenient, especially if you're not fishing from a boat.

2. Live Crayfish - Although not very popular, live crayfish are a great fishing bait, especially for smallmouth bass or large trout. Live crayfish are an extremely effective fishing bait. The downside of these little buggers is obviously the fact that they aren't readily available and they are also difficult to carry around. As far as 'the best fishing bait' is concerned, crayfish need to be on the list.

3. Live Worms - Every angler on the planet knows all about the effectiveness of live worms as fishing bait. Worms and fishing seem to fit together like hands and gloves, it's hard to think about one without the other. The interesting thing about live worms is that most anglers don't fish them in the proper manner. The only way to fish worms in a truly effective manner is through the use of gang hooks. You see, gang hooks are the only way to present live worms in an outstretched and natural manner. This makes a huge difference in bite and catch rates.

4. Synthetic Baits - What do I mean by synthetic baits? Berkley has made incredible breakthroughs in fishing baits with their Gulp and Powerbait products. These fishing baits are molded into every imaginable fishing bait, from minnows to crayfish and every bait in between. Many anglers say that these synthetic baits outperform live baits. At The end of the day, these fishing baits could easily be the best.

Whatever your choice for the best fishing bait, what's important is that you spend as much time on the water as possible practicing your craft. Nothing will make you a better and more successful angler like practice. At the end of the day, the bait you choose to use can be secondary to the experience of fishing itself.

By Trevor Kugler

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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Using Worms For Fishing - Tips to Be More Successful When Fishing With Worms

In this article I'm going to outline a few tips that will help you when using worms for fishing. More than twenty years ago, a man I considered to be a 'trout fishing master' introduced me to most of these tips and I've been using them to catch more fish ever since. These tips are simple and down to earth, which is exactly how my mentor was. Many times in fishing (as in life) we overcomplicate things. These tips for using worms for fishing are simple and to the point which makes them very effective.

I love using worms for fishing whether those worms are live or synthetic such as Berkley Power worms. In my experience using worms for fishing can be every bit the art form that fly fishing has ever been proclaimed to be. The key is to rig the worms in the proper manner, employ light fishing line, and spend a lot of time o the water practicing your craft.

In any case, let's get down to the tips to be more successful when fishing with worms, shall we?

1. Use Light Gear - When I refer to 'gear', I'm referring specifically to your rod, reel, and fishing line. First of all your d and reel should match your fishing line. If you're using ultra light rods and reels, you're going to want to use 2-6 pound test. If you're using light rods and reels, you're going to want to use 6-8 pound test fishing line, and so on. My point is that when using worms for fishing many times anglers use fishing line that's much too heavy. My suggestion is to use an ultra light rod and reel spooled with 4-6 pound test line when worm fishing.

2. Clean Your Hands - Cleaning your hands' may sound strange, but its nonetheless true. When using worms for fishing y we always want to make sure that our hands are free from any unnatural odors. You see any unnatural odors that are on your hands (and there are alot) will transfer to your worm and cost you bites. Most anglers don't realize this fact, but it's true, especially with larger more experienced fish. The simplest remedy for this problem is to grab some dirt in your hands before rigging up and rub it into your hands. This will eliminate any unnatural odors that might be present.

3. Use Gang Hooks - Whenever you use worms for fishing, whether those worms are live or synthetic, gang hooks should be employed. Gang hooks are the most effective and natural way to present worms for fishing, there's no question about it. When using worms those worms should look as natural as possible and gang hooks are the best way to do this. At the end of the day it only makes sense, a worm should look like a worm when we are fishing with it.

These simple tips for using worms for fishing will make you a much more successful worm angler. Never forget that the simplest things are many times the most effective. Nowhere is that more true than in the wonderful sport of fishing. Employ these tips sooner, rather than later and spend as much time as you can honing your worm fishing skills.

By Trevor Kugler

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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The Universal Crappie Catching Rig - Check Out These Amazing Crappie Fishing Tips!

If you make the decision to go crappie fishing there are so many ways to make crappie rigs that catch crappie.You will need different crappie catching rigs for the different seasons of the and for different fishing situations. We have developed a list of crappie catching rigs that have worked for us in the past and they are shown below.Our tips include many excellent rigging tips using artificial crappie jigs, and crappie minnows which are called "Missouri minnows" in many parts of the country.

TIP#1 Use a "spin cast" reel fishing with a light weight graphite rod with 6-12# test line. (this is a bit more then most guys use.. but it works.

Tip#2 Purchase some "Cajun Red 6 -12lb test line for your crappie fishing rig.(you can get away with the 6-12# test line because this crappie fishing rigged line is almost invisible to crappie in the water.

TIP#3 Get some "Missouri minnows" (use when you have the wives and kids in the boat) You don't catch as many fish but it easier for the youngsters to use.

Tip#4 Use weights up to 1/4ounce.

TIP#5 Use crappie fishing jigs.

Tip#5a use plastic crappie fishing jig parts commonly referred to as "tubes" in the color of green, yellow and white

Tip#5b Use the smallest artificial minnow jigs you can find, with black tops and silver belly. The tale should move and get a lot of action in the water.

Tip#5c Use a Hair wrapped jig (these jigs are hard to fine)

Tip#5d Use jigs with a black body and yellow tail with a yellow head and black eyes.

Tip#6 The colder the water gets the smaller the line test you should use. Also water can see better in colder water so use 4lb test line in colder water temperatures.

Tip#7 Use spring loaded floats (bobbers,corks) That can slide up and down the line so you can easily adjust your fishing depth.

Tip#8 Change your crappie fishing rig by tying 2 or there jigs about 10 inches apart. This gives you the capability to fish at different depths to find your crappie. You can put a weight on your line above the jigs or below the jigs. Try both methods until you start catching crappie.

We sincerely hope these crappie fishing tips will help you on your next fishing trip! have a wonderful day!

By Mark Fleagle

Mark Fleagle Webmaster. 30+ Years Of Fishing Experience Expert Author At EzineArticles.com. Click This Link To Find Out More About crappie fishing tips.

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