We are on the hunt for massive panfish, specifically crappies. I love targeting dinner plate size panfish. And generally, when you find them, they are super cooperative responding to a variety of offerings. Here are a couple of key things to focus in on:

1. Hit the warm up days. I like to fish after a couple of days of warming weather.

2. Fish the afternoon. Water temps are always warmest the second part of the day.

3. Focus on windblown shorelines. The wind concentrates the warmest water up into wind blown areas.

Now I want to give you my key set ups (I like to have at least four different configurations ready to go):

1. 7’6” ultralight rod and reel set up to fish a 1.5” Charlie Brewer slider grub on a 3/32 oz Keitech tungsten jighead.

2. 6’8” medium light rod and reel set up to fish a Rapala Shadow Rap (shallow) in purpledescent.

3. 6’6” light spinning rod with a ultralight reel set up to fish a Rapala ultralight crankbait (twitchbait). If you want to learn more about this method, check out this video we shot on how to fish these baits.

   
   

4. 7’ medium light Tatula Elite Spinning Rod with a size 20 spinning reel set up with a 1/16 or 1/8oz hairjig.

We set out to catch a master angler crappie (16”) and caught some absolute slobs. You’ll have to check the video out when we post it. If you want to check out our YouTube channel, we are trying to shoot content that will help you grow as an angler (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwmva2y_SXOAatoptmk9_QA)! Pick a good afternoon and get out and take advantage of some of the best crappie fishing of the entire year right now!