| If you've never fished for crappie with a fly rod, | | | | have to be an expensive one. Next, you will need a |
| then you've really missed something. In my opinion, | | | | WF2F, or WF3F, or ST fly line, or maybe a DT5S for |
| crappies, and other panfish, are the ideal fly rod | | | | summer. Top it off with a 5 tapered leader (crappie |
| quarry for the following reasons; | | | | are not line-shy, so a long leader is not necessary) |
| There are plenty of them. | | | | and a 4X or 5X tippet, and your almost ready to go. |
| They are almost everywhere. | | | | If you need to learn how to fly fish, I'd like to |
| They are scrumptious! | | | | recommend the premier website for all things fly |
| They are incredibly willing to smash your fly (most of | | | | fishing FlyAnglersOnline. Here you will find all the |
| the time) and do battle. | | | | information you need, and then some, for learning |
| Unless you live in Alaska or Hawaii, chances are good | | | | how to properly fly fish, find your quarry, and make |
| that you live within one or two hours from a body of | | | | and maintain your equipment. There are thousands of |
| water than has crappie in it. Crappies are seasonal | | | | proven fly patterns there, with complete directions |
| migratory predators. I won't go into their seasonal | | | | and step-by step instructions for tying them. There is |
| habits here because that is a subject unto itself. | | | | also a forum where you can ask us any questions |
| Suffice to say it helps to know your quarry. | | | | you want. |
| It's pretty simple for most of the year. If you find | | | | A few accessories are nice to have. If you fish from |
| em..you'll catch em. The notable exception is | | | | a boat, and plan to crappie fish all year, a good depth |
| summertime, when crappies get moody, sulk and | | | | finder is a necessity. You'll want a landing net, |
| suspend in open water. They frequently get lock-jaw | | | | because crappies have very tender mouths and can |
| at this time and will even refuse a live minnow | | | | tear-off easily. For the same reason, a floating fish |
| dangled right under their nose! | | | | basket or live well is good to have, because crappie |
| You don't need a $1000.00 fly rod to catch crappie | | | | can tear off of a stringer easily. |
| (or in my experience, any other freshwater fish). A | | | | You'll need a lantern for night-fishing. If you don't |
| $19.99 Wal-Mart special will catch just as many | | | | have a boat, you might want to look at the various |
| crappies as an $850.00 outfit from G. Loomis. For | | | | models of Belly Boats, or Float Tubes. They are |
| crappie, you want to go light. A 6-1/2 to 8-1/2 2 or 3 | | | | great for crappie fishing in still waters. |
| weight fly rod is perfect for crappie. If you want to | | | | Now, for the most fun part of flyfishing selecting |
| chase crappie during the summer, you may want to | | | | your flies. You have two options: You can look for a |
| move up to a 5 weight rod with a sinking line, to get | | | | supplier that ties the patterns you want, or you can |
| your fly to the depths quicker. | | | | do what the rest of us do, and tie your own. This is |
| All you need is a single action reel, and it does not | | | | as much fun as fishing! |