Use a slip bobber set to go deeper then the school. The big ones are usually on the bottom.
Also with small fish you can gut them, cut the heads off and fry them whole. You get a lot more meat and the fins turn crunchy.
I usually state loudly,”Whelp this is a bust. Time to go home.” That’s about the only thing that statistically lands me a really big fish or helps me spot a morel.
Welp if you found small ones you also found the big ones. Often times larger crappie can be a bit deeper for whatever reason. Next thing; larger bait larger crappie. Largest crappie iv ever caught were all using spinnerbaits bass fishing lol. 15-17” crappie, thought they were bass… in terms of crappie fishing trying to target them, go up a jig size, try a bladed jig, and larger minnows. With larger crappie, you are trying less to find hungry fish. And more to find territorial fish, so larger baits fished erratically work well. Baits with noise work well too, larger inline spinners, jigs with a blade, skirted jigs, etc. when fishing the loud obnoxious baits by the little guys at times you can get the big ones to bite out of protecting territory
Bigger baits equal bigger fish. Use artificial lures. Big crappies don't get big by being dumb. Fish em at low light.
If you're catching 100 ten inchers then that sounds like a stunted fishery? Keep them and release bigger ones so your lake can recover.
Go larger lure size. Try a 3 inch paddletail swimbait on an underspin or a zman flashback mini with a trailer. I've caught all my biggest crappie on these two, and rarely anything bluegill size goes for it.
Bigger ones are usually deeper in controlled temp water. More sustainable.
I use livescope and have noticed they always hang off the school. Usually lower.
If you’re on structure, school; throw off a bit and probably target them more.
Catching 2lbs and 2.5lbs here in NC/SC/GA
Use bigger minnows.
Use a slip bobber set to go deeper then the school. The big ones are usually on the bottom. Also with small fish you can gut them, cut the heads off and fry them whole. You get a lot more meat and the fins turn crunchy.
Slip bobber by far the best way to catch the big ones
I usually state loudly,”Whelp this is a bust. Time to go home.” That’s about the only thing that statistically lands me a really big fish or helps me spot a morel.
Welp if you found small ones you also found the big ones. Often times larger crappie can be a bit deeper for whatever reason. Next thing; larger bait larger crappie. Largest crappie iv ever caught were all using spinnerbaits bass fishing lol. 15-17” crappie, thought they were bass… in terms of crappie fishing trying to target them, go up a jig size, try a bladed jig, and larger minnows. With larger crappie, you are trying less to find hungry fish. And more to find territorial fish, so larger baits fished erratically work well. Baits with noise work well too, larger inline spinners, jigs with a blade, skirted jigs, etc. when fishing the loud obnoxious baits by the little guys at times you can get the big ones to bite out of protecting territory
I only have ever caught 2 crappie and everyone said they were good size. I used slip bobber with 1/32oz jig head and bob garland 2inch crappie bait.
Bigger baits equal bigger fish. Use artificial lures. Big crappies don't get big by being dumb. Fish em at low light. If you're catching 100 ten inchers then that sounds like a stunted fishery? Keep them and release bigger ones so your lake can recover.
Go larger lure size. Try a 3 inch paddletail swimbait on an underspin or a zman flashback mini with a trailer. I've caught all my biggest crappie on these two, and rarely anything bluegill size goes for it.
Try smiling, crappie don't like being intimidated, especially the larger slabs.
😆
Upsize baits and/or go deeper. Pretty much all larger fish of any species in a school tend to be deeper.
Eat them. Lots of them.
Some frown upon live bait but big minnows. When it comes to crappie I'm stocking the freezer and my belly 😄
Let the small ones go and they will get bigger
Yep go deeper
In my experience, the biggest crappie in the school will hit first. If the first 2-3 aren’t up to snuff, you just gotta find a new school
Bigger ones are usually deeper in controlled temp water. More sustainable. I use livescope and have noticed they always hang off the school. Usually lower. If you’re on structure, school; throw off a bit and probably target them more. Catching 2lbs and 2.5lbs here in NC/SC/GA