Catching Crappie: No Boat, No Problem
Day 4: Jeff Williams Says to Bargain, Barter or Pay for a Pier or a Dock to Fish for Crappie
Editor’s Note: Jeff Williams is the owner of Outdoor BrandZ in Grove, Oklahoma. He makes and distributes the Fle-Fly jig (http://flefly.com). Competitive crappie fishermen and other crappie fishermen have been putting a lot of emphasis on spider rigging for crappie (slow trolling with often as many as 12 to 14 poles out at one time). But many of us still like to single pole fish for crappie with jigs and minnows by fishing from the bank or the dock and wading.
  If there’s a marina or a bait shop on or near the lake you want to fish, more than likely, most everyone in the area buys their bait, snacks and possibly their groceries from that same bait shop. The owner of the bait shop probably knows everyone around who owns property around the lake. He also may know someone who will let you and/or your family fish off his dock or pier. I’d begin my research for finding a place to fish from the bank or pier with this person.
Another tactic that works is to rent a dock. Believe it or not, many people who have lake or river houses and have docks on them don’t fish. Docks are ideal places to catch crappie, especially if they have brush under them or out in front of them. Often lakeside residents will sink brush for their families to fish for crappie.
Two ways you may be able to fish from these docks and catch crappie include:
* talking to the dock owner, and seeing if he/she has sunk brush in front of the dock. Ask him if he minds if you and your family fish there from time to time. You also can offer to pay for the right to fish there.
* suggesting that you borrow or rent a boat and build brush shelters or stake beds in front of someone’s dock, if the owner of the dock hasn’t sunk brush in front of or around that dock. Then the owner and his family can fish there, and he’ll let you and your family fish there too.
  Many states have fishing piers out in lakes, rivers, and state-owned lakes where individuals and families can fish. So, check with the Fishery Section of your state’s Department of Conservation.
Yet another way to find great places to fish from the bank and catch crappie is to get a state road map. Look for places where bridges cross creeks, branches and backwater areas. Often, you can go right down the side of the bridge and fish. Crappie usually will hold next to bridge and pier pilings – productive places to catch crappie from the bank. There are many public-fishing opportunities in every state. You just have to do some research to find great places to catch crappie from the bank.
Have you caught crappie in really bad weather before? If so, write and tell us about it at john7185@gmail.com.
For more information on crappie and crappie fishing, check out our two Kindle books “Crappie: How to Catch Them Fall & Winter” and “Crappie: How to Catch Them Spring and Summer”. You can also buy the print version of “Crappie: How to Catch Them Fall and Winter” at http://www.amazon.com/Crappie-Catch-Them-Fall-Winter.
About the Author
John Phillips, winner of the 2012 Homer Circle Fishing Award for outstanding fishing writer by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors. Click here for more information and a list of all the books available from John E. Phillips.
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