Crappie gear

Quick setup

Rod	Reel	Line
Light or ultralight rod, 4.5 to 8 feet or longer. Longer rods are gentler on their soft mouths.	Small spinning or spincast reel.	4 to 8 lb monofilament; 6 lb is a good default.

Rod, reel and line

Rod: Light or ultralight rod, 4.5 to 8 feet or longer. Longer rods are gentler on their soft mouths.
Reel: Small spinning or spincast reel.
Line: 4 to 8 lb monofilament; 6 lb is a good default.

Baits

small minnows
waxworms
pieces of nightcrawler
spikes

Lures

1/32 to 1/8 oz jigs with small plastic bodies
small spinners and spinnerbaits
small crankbaits
flies

Rigs

A small jig or minnow under a small bobber in 3 to 6 feet of water near wood in spring. Use size 4 to 10 hooks for bait.

Tips

Crappie feed upward, so keep bait above them. Keep the line tight and set the hook with a slow, steady sweep. Try several colors. After spawning they move deeper and often suspend over open water.
Fly fishing: Nymphs, poppers or streamers when crappie are shallow in spring.

Starter setup

A 5.5 to 7 foot light to medium-light spinning or spincast rod and matching reel, spooled with 6 lb monofilament. Spincast is easiest for beginners, and a 4 to 5 foot rod suits small kids. Carry size 6 to 10 hooks, a few split shot (pinched on 4 to 8 inches above the hook), small bobbers, a couple of small spinners and jigs, and worms. Learn the improved clinch knot and the palomar knot.

Light line casts farther and draws more strikes. Heavier line and stiffer rods are for bigger fish, heavy cover or sharp teeth, not for everyday fishing.

When to size up

Fish	Gear
Walleye, bass, saugeye, hybrid striped bass	medium rod, 8 to 12 lb line, 6 to 7.5 feet
Channel catfish	medium-heavy rod, 10 to 20 lb line
Northern pike	medium-heavy rod, 15 lb or heavier braid, steel or heavy fluorocarbon (40 lb+) leader
Muskellunge	heavy 7 to 9 foot rod, 50 to 80 lb braid, heavy leader
Trolling for lake trout and salmon	8.5 to 10.5 foot trolling rods, 15 lb mono or 30 lb braid, level-wind reels
Steelhead	8 to 10 foot or longer rods, 6 to 10 lb line
Lake sturgeon	heavy rod, 50 to 100 lb braid