The heat and humidity of south Louisiana isn’t for the faint of heart. With air temperatures climbing into the upper 90s and water temps reaching the same scorching levels in stagnant backwaters, many ...

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Hang around a gaggle of crappie fishermen for a little while and the subject of jig colors will arise. What is the best crappie-jig color? What color catches the biggest crappie?

In the south Crappie are already pushed up shallow and other parts of the country aren’t far behind. That means it’s time to tie on a jig and head to your favorite brush pile. If you need a new rod, ...

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.

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.