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The Crappie Minnow school: How To Make Live minnow Setups

Old School Crappie Fishing Family Secrets
Rigging minnows for crappie fishing
Crappies love live bait and they hunt for schools of minnows everyday for a food source. The following crappie fishing technique will create a small, tight little group of minnows, each one with a hook in it. If fished properly this small group of minnows can be amazingly successful, and a very productive way of filling your fish basket.
It is very important to have the right fishing equipment when fishing for crappie and just the right rod and reel combo is very important. You will need a small spin cast reel that is rated for 4 to 6lb test line, and a rod that is over 8ft long. (a typical fly rod makes a excellent crappie rod. I personally use a fly rod with a small spin cast reel set up with 10lb test fire line. The fire line is a braided line that has the strength of 10lb test but only the dia. of 4lb test line.
Steps To Success How to simulate a small school of “crappie minnows”
Step#1 You will need to purchase some 3 way swivels, They work great for crappie fishing. Make sure you get the smallest you can find
Step#2 Go to bass pro shop or other tackle shops that sell loose beads and spinner blades that rotate 360 degrees. Make sure you purchase the smallest you can find. These spinners make simulate a small bait fish an make excellent crappie minnow baits
Step#3 Get yourself 1 egg, or bass sinkers, no more then a 1/4oz size.
Step#4 You will need to purchase some 10lb fire line and load your spin cast reel. The best prices I have found are at bass pro shop.
Step#5 Get yourself 3 no. 1,1/0,2/0 Aberdeen gold crappie hooks and tie them to 3 pieces of fire line cut to 16” lengths using a Palomar knot. The length you want to end up at is 12 inches, so you need to trim the end opposite the hook.
Step#6 Now you are going to cut (3) pieces of fire line each 8” inches long, they will connect between the three way swivels.
Step#7 Release enough fire line out of your rod and reel combo and run it through the eyelets on your rod. Make sure you have enough line extending past the eyelets to work comfortably when you are tying on your crappie fishing rig tackle.
Step#8 Tie on your first 3 way swivel so the eyelet is 90degrees from the top eyelet is on the left hand side.
Step#9 Round up (2) of the beads and (1) of the spinner blades from step five, and slide one bead up the 12” inch leader and then slide on a spinner blade spinner blade. Next slide a second bead up the 12” leader behind the spinner blade. Now tie the end opposite the Aberdeen gold crappie hook. And tie it to the 90deg eyelet that is on the left hand side.
Step#10 Now pick up one of your 8” connecting pieces of fire line and tie one end to last remaining open eyelet of the first three way swivel , then tie the other end to the top eyelet of the second three way swivel, but make sure the open eyelet 90degs from the top is on the right hand side before you tie. When you have completed the tying process you should have approximately 6 inches between the two eyelets.
Step#11 Pick up one of the 12” leaders you made in step 5 and slide one bead up the line. Next slide one of the spinner blades up the line behind the first bead. Next, Slide another bead up the line behind the spinner blade. Now, tie the end of the leader without the Aberdeen gold crappie hook to the free eyelet on the second 3 way swivel that is on the right side 90degrees from the top.
Step#12 Tie one end of the 8” pieces of fire line you cut in step 6 to the bottom eyelet of the second 3 way swivel, then tie the other end of the line two your third 3 way swivel. Make sure the open eyelet that is 90degrees from the top on the second 3 way swivel is located on the right hand side. After your tying is done, you want to end up with approximately 6” of space between the second and third eyelet.
Step#13 Pick up the last 12” leader you made in step 5 and slide one bead up the line. Next slide one of the spinner blades up the line behind the first bead. Next, Slide another bead up the line behind the spinner blade. Now, tie the end of the leader without the hook to the free eyelet on the third 3 way swivel that is on the right side 90degrees from the top.
Step#14 Now pick up the last 8” connecting pieces of fire line and tie one end to last remaining open eyelet of the Third three way swivel , and the other end to the 1/4oz bass sinker.
Great Job! You have now finished your first live bait crappie fishing rig!
Mark Fleagle is an Expert Author At Ezinearticles.com. and has over 30 years of fishing experience who has written 100's of useful fishing articles. Would you like to max out your catch on your next fishing trip? Blow your fishing buddies out of the water and get your bragging rights today! Also don't forget to get your free copy of "78 Fishing Discoveries Unleashed" saltwater freshwater|fishing information
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