KENT DRISCOLL - EXTRAORDINARY CRAPPIE FISHERMAN
Cranking Up for Crappie
 EDITOR'S
NOTE: Kent Driscoll of Cordova, Tennessee, has enjoyed
fishing for crappie for 30 years. He's fished in crappie
tournaments and finishing third in 2000 and fourth in
2002 at the North American Crappie Classic. Each spring
and summer, Driscoll fishes the Crappie USA Circuit,
Crappiemasters and the new Crappie Angler's Association,
using a wide variety of tactics that produce crappie
all year long. For the next two weeks, we'll  learn
how Driscoll finds and catches crappie.
Question: When do you start fishing crankbaits for
crappie, and why are you using the same kind and size
of crankbaits to fish for crappie that bass fishermen
use?
Driscoll: We start trolling crankbaits in May, after
the spawn. And we'll pull crankbaits for crappie throughout
the summer. From May until  September,
the crappie in the three lakes I primarily fish in north
Mississippi pull out away from the bank and suspend
in the middle of the lake, often in large schools. These
schools will be holding along the thermocline, which
is usually in 12 to 15 feet of water. The thermocline
is the crappie's comfort zone. It's where they find
the most oxygen, the best water temperature and the
most bait.
The crappie at this time of year won't be related to
any type of structure. They'll just be holding out on
major flats, points on the river channel and often scattered
out in the main part of the lake. When I'm pulling crankbaits
for crappie, I'll usually have eight B'n'M Pro Staff
trolling rods. I have four rod holders that each hold
four poles. These rod holders are positioned on the
right-hand and left-hand side of the bow and on the
right and left sides of the stern. If I have a partner
fishing with me, he'll be fishing the eight rods on
the stern while I fish the eight rods on the bow.
To learn more about Mossy Oak Fishing Line, go to www.mossyoakfishing.com.
For more information on B'n'M crappie poles, visit www.bnmpoles.com.
NEXT WEEK: MORE ON CRANKBAITING FOR CRAPPIE AND OTHER
DRISCOLL TACTICS
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