“Wintertime Sauger, Crappie and Bass in Indiana with Jerry Cary, Jr., and Mister Twister Lures”

Part 3: Crappie in the Spring

Editor’s Note: Jerry Cary Jr. from Indianapolis, Indiana, is a multi-species fisherman. “I fish for sauger, crappie and bass. And at this time of year in November and December, sauger fishing is my top priority.”

Question: How do you catch crappie in the spring?

Cary: Instead of trolling like I do in the winter months, I’ll be fishing with a spinning rod, and I’ll be casting to brush and swimming a jig by the brush as slowly as I can swim it. I’ll be fishing either a 1/16 or 1/32-ounce jighead with a 2-inch Mister Twister Curly Tail Grub. I still like the pink jighead with a white Curly Tail Grub and a black head with a chartreuse Curly Tail Grub.

One of the best ways I’ve found to keep up with what color works best in the area you’re fishing in the time of year you’re fishing is to keep a log of every day you crappie fish. Be sure and note the date, the water clarity and on what color jig you’re catching the most crappie. Then you can return to that log the next year, determine what the water clarity is on the day you’re fishing, and pretty well know which jig color to use by reading the entry in your logs.

In the area I fish, we have a lot of stained water and bright-color jigs seem to produce better for me. But in the northern part of Indiana, where the water is crystal clear, the jig colors I’m using here probably won’t produce up there. In crystal-clear water, the lighter colors of Curly Tail Grubs seem to be the best. Clear, luminescent colors seem to be the most productive in that really-clear water. White jig heads or chartreuse jigheads seem to be preferred too.

Question: What rod, reel and line are you using when you’re casting for crappie in the spring?

Cary: I use a 5-1/2-foot ultralight rod and either 2 or 6-pound-test line. I’ve found that I can feel bites much better with lighter line than I can with heavier line. I also like the castability of the lighter line, especially the 2-pound test. Now I have broken off some crappie on that 2-pound-test line, but, I have a fairly simple system that helps me land more crappie. If I’m using 2-pound test, I fish with Trilene XT, which stands for extra tough. If I’m using 6-pound test, I use Trilene XL. Both of those lines are monofilament. The reason I use the two different types of line is Trilene XT is extra tough, so I believe I get more abrasion resistance and some extra strength in that 2-pound-test line by using XT.

When I’m using the 4 or 6-pound-test line, because I’ve got a bigger line size, I want more castability. Trilene XL is extra limp, which gives me added castability but less abrasion resistance. If I have to use line stronger than 2-pound test, I want the castability, but with 2-pound test, I need the added toughness. So on any given day I’ll be fishing 2- to 6-pound-test line depending on the type of cover I’m fishing around, and the size of fish I’m catching.