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 ...

" Hello folks, This week Ivo and Antonio take you out for some sunset crappie fishing from a small boat, close to shore. Ivo shows you some important tips on how to set up your rig specially to catch ...

The ways in which you can employ minnows for crappie fishing are limited only by your imagination. A few basic principles should be observed when making minnow-fishing rigs.

Good lure choices include jerk baits, Alabama rigs or crank baits. Southtown Sporting Goods in Fayetteville recommends using minnows or jigs for crappie.

Try for black bass are lakes Norwood or Windsor with spinner baits, Alabama rigs or swim baits. Use minnows or jigs for crappie 10 to 20 feet deep around brush.

It’s a good choice when fishing vertically for crappie that are suspended close to bottom. Split Shot Rig: It’s great for casting minnows around bridge supports and cross members.

Crappie are biting well on minnows or jigs around docks or brush on the main lake. White bass are biting fair on the main lake. Use Alabama rigs, in-line spinners or any small lure.

You will also pick up crappie and largemouth bass with live minnows. A drop shot rig – a size 4 or 6 baitholder hook tied 12 to 18 inches above a weight at the end of the line – also works.

Top: Kenneth Whitehead catches crappie on Oologah Lake. Above: A simple slip-cork setup includes a bobber-stop, slip-cork, split-shot sinker and a minnow on a 4/0 long-shank hook.

While crappie rigs and perch spreaders commonly catch lots of perch, the warmer inland lake waters require anglers to make a switch to hooks or lures tipped with nightcrawlers, redworms, waxworms ...