Crappie Fishing in the Summer | Best Spots and Lures

Pro fishing guide Jack Uxa explains how to find and catch summertime crappies using a logical and straightforward approach and a handful of proven crappie lures (jigs and plastics). If experience has taught Uxa anything, summer is an excellent time to catch loads of fish, but you need to look in the right places.
With water temperatures reaching their annual maximum, you need to seek out the cooler water provided by shade and deeper water. Both were key locations here, with Uxa explaining the nuance of jig fishing crappies around heavily shadowed boat docks adjacent to creek channels, and ideally, ones with some brush underneath. Panfish tubes and minnow-profiled plastics are dynamite -- have a few jig weights rigged so you can adjust your fall speed to the depth of mood of the crappies.
Deep water brush and marinas are also excellent locations. You can easily find brush if you have forward-facing sonar at your disposal, as Uxa demonstrates, but these brush piles also stand out prominently with 2D sonar or side imaging. And don't overlook targeting crappies around the big cables that secure marinas.
TACKLE USED (retail links)
SPINNING SETUP 1
PLASTICS
• Berkley PowerBait Atomic Tubes: bit.ly/3oQyG9q
• Berkley Gulp! Crappie Nibbles, color - Chartreuse: bit.ly/3zpj55C
• JIG - Generic ball head jig, 1/32-ounce
ROD SETUP
• ROD - Fenwick Elite Light Finesse Spinning Rod, 6'6'', Ultra Light: bit.ly/3bpHFet
• REEL - Pflueger President XT Spinning Reel, size 20: bit.ly/3OSQqeU
• LINE - Berkley Trilene XL Monofilament Line, 4-pound: bit.ly/3QikfX5
SPINNING SETUP 2 (deeper water)
PLASTICS
• Berkley PowerBait Atomic Tubes: bit.ly/3oQyG9q
• Berkley PowerBait Ripple Shad, 2-inch: bit.ly/3bu1x0c
• Berkley Gulp! Minnow, 2.5-inch: bit.ly/3bnZ7jt
• Berkley PowerBait Power Swimmer, 2-inch: bit.ly/3OWskQl
• JIG - Generic ball head jig, 1/16-ounce
ROD SETUP
• ROD - Fenwick Elite Light Finesse Spinning Rod, 6'9'', Light: bit.ly/3bpHFet
• REEL - Abu Garcia Cardinal S10 Spinning Reel
• LINE - Stren Original Monofilament, HiVis Gold, 6-pound: bit.ly/3JtJNP8
FISH FINDER
• LIVE SONAR - Garmin LiveScope Plus System (GLS10 & LVS34): bit.ly/3clmtX8
Jack's Guide Service fishinglakeoftheozarks.com
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[@richardsousa2625]

I got into fishing about 8 years ago, and I only caught my first crappie two years ago while bass fishing a chatter bait, since then if I can’t find bass I go find crappie. I think it might be the most fun all around fishing experience. They’re always a treat to find

[@gvsoutdoors2673]

gulp minnows and berkley powerbaits are my go-to when fishing is tough. I have had them out fish a live minnow. Great baits.

[@BigRigOutdoors]

I have never really been a crappie guy but I recently purchased a live scope unit and everyone I've talked to said go crappie fishing to learn how to use it.
This video helped a ton.
Unfortunately my wife has fallen in love with crappie fishing I'm really worried she's going to steel my boat.
Thanks wired2fish.

[@Steve_Balboni]

I like this guy. Great video guys!

[@stan404notfound]

Hoping to catch some crappies soon, never caught them before. Thanks for the tips and great video!

[@aremancing]

Amazing

[@hunterws]

With that boat and those electronics, you're not even fishing, you're catching. #envy
Good tips. When I've tried to help folks catch more crappie, I find they don't have the patience to let that jig get down far enough. I can hand them the same lure I'm using (tube jigs), and they get flustered they can't catch 'em like I do. gg