When it comes to ice fishing, a hot bite for crappies under the hardwater is tough to beat. While sometimes these finicky fish need to be finessed with tiny jigs tipped with spikes, in presentations more suited for bluegills, the best bites where crappies are aggressively feeding and slamming small spoons are often the most memorable. That’s not to say one can’t get away with some small spoons these days though, either, as more and more lures cater to crappie anglers on the ice. What follows are some tips to get the most out of an enjoyable spoon bite for crappies.

Line it up

Of course, presentation is everything for the big-eyed crappie. Those oversized oculars of theirs are very decisive, and having a spoon give off a natural flutter and flicker down below is key. This means using the lightest line one can get away with, and limiting any terminal tackle above the spoon, including clips and swivels. Where a speed clip is useful during search and connect missions for fish, especially species like pike and walleyes, here a direct tie to a small spoon is important to eliminate any unnatural attachments. Additionally, having good, fresh line with little memory or twist will help keep the presentation free flowing, and eliminate any unnatural spin in the lure when it’s sitting still or you’re just barely twitching it to get a response.

Wide selection

A wide variety of small spoons and other small baits are available now to crappie anglers, from traditional offerings like the Swedish Pimple and Northland Forage Minnow on up to today’s more advanced models complete with rattles, UV paint jobs, and other attractive add-ons. Having a selection of small spoons from one to two-and-a-half inches at your disposal in a variety of types and colors is a good idea, allowing you to size up when crappies are bigger or want a larger bait, and slim down to something a little more subtle, when they’re fussy in a post frontal situation.

Load it up

Finally, no spoon presentation would be complete without a morsel of food to seal the deal when a crappie rises to inspect the offering. On active days, full crappie minnows can be the ticket when fish are feeding hard. When they’re more neutral, a minnow head pinched free from the body and threaded on the treble might be the ticket. Still on those tougher days, a wax worm or a couple of spikes on the hook below the spoon may be the best bet, or artificial options like Berkley Gulp! or Powerbait may work. Before dropping the baited lure down into the column, check it in the hole to see that the chosen bait and the lure present well, and the motion of each matches in a fairly natural way.

With the right presentation and a selection of spoons in sizes and colors to match the mood of the fish, along with the proper baits for the moment, anglers can connect with more crappies each winter. Consider these setups for the most success from now until ice out, and use spoons to search out and hook up with fast crappie action…in our outdoors.

— Simonson is the lead writer and editor of Dakota Edge Outdoors.