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Anglers travel from across the country to enjoy the Crappie fishing Texas has to offer. The Lone Star State may be better known for its Bass, but many of the same bodies of water hold monster Crappie, too. Black and White Crappie both reach trophy sizes here. White Crappie topping 4 ½ pounds have been caught in recent years, and the Blacks aren’t that much smaller! 

 

But that doesn’t tell the whole story, what makes these fisheries special is the sheer number of Crappie you can land in a single day. Strike lucky, and you’ll catch enough fish to fry up a feast for half the block. Even on a slow day, you’ll struggle to head home empty-handed.

Crappie can be caught in lakes and reservoirs all across Texas. In the winter, they stick to deeper waters, and move to the shallows as the water warms in spring. They generally prefer areas with little or no current, so comb the coves and sheltered structure to find the biggest schools.

 

During the cold winter months, the upper end of “Big Sam” produces some of the most reliable angling around. Fish along the Angelina River channel for the best results. When the water warms up, fish in the coves, casting into 3 feet of water or less.

 

The Toledo Bend Crappie bite is usually at it best in winter. Shad pile up around the “Chicken Coop” (a deep bend just up from the Pendleton Bridge.) Crappie hit the Shad in huge schools, and anglers hit the Crappie in equal numbers. This spot can get pretty crowded, but it’s well worth it.

 

Lake Fork is mainly known for its world-class Bass fishing, but the Crappie here are also amazing! Fish the pilings around the bridges during the winter, or over shallow, sandy ground in the summer. Whatever you’re doing, the Bass crowds will be doing the opposite, so you don’t have to worry about finding fishing space.

 

Navarro Lake, Lake Livingston, Lake Conroe, there are Crappie everywhere! The best plan is to fish the waters your guide knows well. Wherever you go, you’re in for some great hookups and a tasty feast at the end of the day.

Tactics change with the water temperature, but the top techniques are live baits and jigs. In the winter, live Minnows or Shiners work well around thick brush and other hiding places. In the summer, Minnows can still work a charm, dangled on small bobbers in a couple of feet of water. Small jigs like Crappie Critters are also great, either on floats or cast-and-retrieved. Retrieving is the best way to find the fish, but vertical jigging can be even better once you’re on them. In the fall, live worms and tubes baits work well in deep waters.

 

There are a dozen different ways to target Crappie but they all have one thing in common: Crappie have soft mouths which make them cautious biters. Be careful as you bring in your slack, and remember to wait until you have the full weight of the fish on your line before setting the hook.

You’ll need a freshwater fishing license to enjoy the awesome Crappie fishing Texas has in store for you. Crappie fishing guides provide all the essential equipment but you may need to pay extra for bait. If you’re fishing on your own, pay attention to the Texas Parks & Wildlife information on each body of water. Zebra Mussels have infested many lakes, so be extra careful to clean down all your gear at the end of your trip. Other than that, just pick a lake and enjoy. It’s impossible not to!