The word is out, and they say the crappie have been biting really well and anglers have been catching a lot of good two pounds or more fish. Crappie are still out in about 16 feet of water. They’re being caught on white/silver-white jigs and gray/silver-white jigs, as well as on minnows on Table Rock and Beaver Lakes.
Crappie are hungry now, but they must be 10 inches or longer to keep at both lakes. Bigger crappie are suspended along bends or flats near the old White River channel on Beaver. Crappie typically reach the legal-size limit in 2.5 years.
Crappie vary in color, and can be almost completely light or dark. The main way to tell them apart is by looking at how regular their dark markings are. Black crappie have irregular dark blotches all over their body, while white crappie have regular dark bars running down their body.
You can also find out by looking at the dorsal (top) fin. Crappie have hard, needle-like spines on their dorsal fins. Black crappie have 7–8 spines, white crappie only have 5–6. Also, black crappie are normally shorter and more “stubby.”
My friend Lance he said he had been using shallow water spider rigging minnows in 6-7 foot of water, relating to mud flats up the river arms. A little different than most people do, but very effective. His method is slow vertical trolling, which he calls spider rigging.
Lance (pictured) is a pro crappie guide on beautiful Beaver Lake. His goal in each guide trip is to have lots of laughs, educate you, and give you an unforgettable day. Catching fish is just a bonus! Ten years of year-round fishing on Beaver Lake is his key to doing it right. Lance Hughey Crappie Guide Service, LLC (479) 236-4105 “Fishing is fun… Catching is better.”
If you need help getting hooked up with the right guide for the right season and the right memory, give me a call – I’ve got all the guides lined up. Call Customer Adventures Guides Service (479) 253-5259, ask for Lisa.