Crappies respond well to minnows – that’s how the crappie minnow rig came about. For this rig, you don’t need a jig, spinner, or soft bait, just a live minnow, like a golden shiner or fathead. You can help keep your minnow alive longer by using a light wire hook. Lighter hooks also tend to snag less. The best way to fish a minnow is to hook it under the top fin, or through the mouth. When crappie attack the minnow, they’ll normally start with the head.

You can construct various setups for this rig, but the most popular minnow rig setup includes a sinker, bobber, and drag-line with several hooks. Many anglers like to fish these rigs using two separate hooks that they tie to separate leaders. They’ll then attach both leaders to a weighted main line. You can fish this rig on the bottom, float it above cover using a slip float, or troll it. Regardless of how you choose to fish, the set-up should stay essentially the same.