Drop Shotting Crappies in Open Water | New Methods

The product recommendations on our site are independently chosen by our editors. When you click through our links, we may earn a commission. 

Wired2fish’s Mitch Anderson explains how he locates roaming crappies using live forward-looking sonar (Humminbird MEGA Live) and catches them with a finesse drop shot setup. Crappies are schooling panfish constantly on the move, but they’re also eager biters if you can get a bait in front of them. Sonar, whether the more common 2D or newer forward-looking varieties, is a huge aid in finding fish fast. Similarly, a drop shot is among the quickest rigging setups for putting bait on their snout in a natural manner.

KEY TACKLE & EQUIPMENT
OTHER GOOD SOFT BAIT OPTIONS

Anderson shares his drop shot setup, catered around delivering micro soft baits to unsuspecting fish. While live bait generates bites, quality plastics are usually good for several fish per bait and can catch them just as well without time wasted spend re-baiting hooks. Using real-time sonar feedback to maintain contact with crappies is key to Anderson’s success in open water. With that in mind, he shares some boat control tips for positioning relative to the wind to stay on fish and make accurate casts to them.

Editors note: with new powerful fish-finder technologies comes an increased responsibility to fisheries. Please use responsibly — practice selective harvest and catch and release to help preserve quality fishing opportunities for other anglers and future generations.

CLOTHING
WIRED2FISH SKEETER FXR21
SHALLOW WATER ANCHORS & ACCESSORIES
FISH FINDERS
ACCESSORIES
BATTERIES AND CHARGERS