Crappie are one of the most popular gamefish in the U.S.—and for good reason. They’re fun to catch for anglers of any skill level, they put up a good fight, and they can grow to impressive sizes. If ...

Slab crappies are meat eaters—sure enough minnow munchers. They take artificials well at times, especially jigs—but big crappie will turn their noses at even the best of the best crappie lures.

We were barely creeping along when one of the fishing rods slowly pulled downward. A gentle lift, and another decent crappie was aboard. Trolling and vertical jigging along the dropoff was productive.