When crappie get a little finicky, give them a little something extra to keep the bite going.
Berkley Crappie Nibbles:
One of the more popular crappie teaser are the Berkley Crappie Nibbles, in chartreuse, white or silver bullet colors. Nibbles slowly dissolve; when the glitter falls off in the water, it looks like tiny fish scales falling off a baitfish.
One crappie angler said he uses a really small hook with 2 nibbles and a split shot weight about 5 inches up on the line. “I also have a bobber about 2 feet up the line.” He mostly catches smaller fish with this set-up. Other anglers use tube jigs injecting Nibbles using a Bait Pump.
Crappie Psychic Crappie Trailers, Crappie Ammo, Gulp Alive:
Crappie Trailers are long, skinny trailers that twitch and swim behind the bait. Crappie Ammo is a small round ball, somewhat like Crappie Nibbles, but it holds up better on the hook. All are impregnated with fish drawing smell. Berkley Gulp Alive looks just like a real shiner.
Crappie trailers come in about a dozen different colors with white best when fishing in clear water, chartreuse in muddier water, and chartreuse/pink any time, but especially in colder water.
Gill Reaper Lures:
Gill Reaper Lures has a jig that’s designed with a hole where the eye would normally be, the perfect size to insert your favorite crappie nibble. The positioning allows the scent to flow all the way down the bait. If the fish is targeting the head of the jig, you get better hooksets.
The Reaper comes in 1/16-, 1/8- and 1/4-ounce sizes, with or without an underspin blade and in a variety of colors. You can order them at gillreaperlures.com online.