Big crappies are still showing up on a regular basis for my clients here on Lake Wisconsin along with an occasional walleye. The one in this picture decided that snacking on a 1/16oz crappie jig tipped with a waxworm might be a good idea. Deb Rosenow showed she was up to the task even with an ultra lite rod. Made for a heck of a battle and a nice surprise when we were expecting another big crappie.
Truth be told though, we’ve caught no more than one keeper walleye or sauger on any given crappie fishing trip. They show up here and there and make for a nice bonus fish but I wouldn’t expect to get one on every trip.
We are catching primarily crappies but its not unusual at all to catch six or seven different species on any given day. Crappies, bluegills, white bass, smallmouth bass, sheepshead, saugers and walleyes are the most common and in about that order too.
Two main stays as always are the top producers for my boat. One being the simple yet very effective split shot, gold hook and a fathead minnow. The other resembles a cubby mite jig which is nothing more than a 1/16 or 1/32oz jig & plastic tipped with a waxworm.
The preference of one rig over the other can change daily or even by the hour. Early in the morning, a minnow tends to work pretty well but when the sun comes up, the tiny jig & plastic seems to out fish the minnow rig more often than not.
Best depths are between 8-16′ deep and usually somewhere close to the primary drop off.
This is basically the same thing we’ve been doing for quite a few years. Pretty easy, relaxing type of fishing.
It’s not lock and load either though. Moving around and checking many different spots does indeed pay off. If crappies are there and active, I feel very confident that we’ll get bit fairly quickly. If we don’t get any decent fish within 15 minutes after arriving at a new location, its definitely time to move on.
With the cold weather finally showing up this week, this may very well be the last of my fall crappie fishing.
If so, bring on the walleyes & saugers!
A few more pics…..
Nice!
May have to venture that way this weekend before it is too late!
nice bunches of fish Joel and a great bonus eye to boot. With this colder weather, the walleye and sauger should start picking up.
No doubt you have Lake WI dialed in!
As confusing as it is every year on trying to pick out what to do, Fall time is a magical time with so many opportunities between fishing all species and hunting! 
Awesome Crappies and some great bonus Walleyes to boot! Way to go!
Nice report Joel.