When buying minnows for bait, be sure to choose durable ones. Most anglers prefer fatheads over golden shiners, as they can handle a lot more and still come out alive. Make sure they're healthy and in tip-top shape too.
If you catch your crappie baitfish, always catch them in the same area. You never want to release an invasive species into a new habitat. Be sure that the water you put them in is the right temperature as well, or you'll shock them to death.
Crappies are often referred to as papermouths. Their mouths are really big, but they’re fragile in nature. This makes them delicate. For large minnows, we often run #4 and even #1 but never more than #6.
Run the hook through the tail of a minnow about a quarter of an inch from the fins. It’s an excellent way to keep the baitfish happy and healthy. Pause to allow this process to work.
There are several ways to rig hooks such as trolling, slip floating, and tightlining. Most crappie jigs have two hooks that are on separate leaders. Both will be attached to a weighted primary line.