The Ontario Fall Crappie Hunt

Autumn is here, folks!

Ontario is such an incredible place to fish, not only because it offers the adventurous angler over 400,000 lakes of every imaginable size, shape, and depth but also because of the variety of species you can target. Two days ago, for example, I was chasing mammoth muskies in Lake of the Woods, where there are over 14,000 picture-postcard islands, scattered amongst one million acres of water. Then, yesterday, I decided to catch black crappies in a much more modest hideaway, where I was serenaded in the evening by a lonely timber wolf howling to the moon on shore. Talk about the big and the small of it all.

Gotta confess too, that crappies and muskies are at the top of my fall fishing agenda because with both species, it’s a hide-and-seek hunting game to pinpoint them. Especially, crappies that you can find in so many dissimilar type lakes from Southeastern Ontario clear across to the Northwestern part of the province.

angler fishing crappie

Gord Pyzer found this beautiful crappie relating to a weedline point.

During the late summer months and into early autumn, for example, crappies are social animals that school up in large groups and move around together. This can make for feast or famine fishing: once you find a tightly bunched-up batch it is like picking plump juicy grapes from a vine.

angler fishing crappie

Two of the most important things I’ve also noticed about locating crappies, in my Northwestern Ontario, Sunset Country part of the province, is that the schools at this time of the year like to cluster in deeper water. And they are typically moving around slowly.

But—and this is an extremely important part of the location puzzle—there is almost always something that is attracting and holding the group of fish together, like the tip of an underwater point, a pile of rocks, or even something as subtle as a submerged log or tree lying on the bottom.

sonar

 Black crappies are social animals, so when you find one, you can bet there is more.

When I find one of these bunched-up schools that is ripe for the picking, I like to back away from the fish if it’s relatively shallow and calm and cast a baby finger-size swimbait like a Z-Man Micro Finesse Shad FryZ or small rattling bait like a Rapala Ultra Light Rippin Rap. If I find the fish in deeper water, or if it is wavy, on the other hand, I’ll get right over top of the school and hang a small jig tipped with a 2 1/4-inch Mister Twister Sassy Stingum in front of their noses. This is probably the most effective method but be aware that your presence can alert the crappies and cause them to shift their position. You need to move along with them when the bite starts to slow down.

angler fishing crappie

If you’re fishing a relatively shallow featureless crappie lake — especially common in the southern parts of the province — you will find the fish relating to clumps of cabbage and distinct weed lines. They’ll often spread out a little more than the deeper water fish, but you will still find small clusters of crappies associating with weedy points and anywhere that a rock, boulder, clay, or sand bottom creates a tiny opening-like oasis in the vegetation.

angler fishing crappie

Crappies are attracted to anything on the bottom, like a sunken log or pile of boulders.

I was fishing a weedline like this the other day and found the slabs a short cast away from the string-like strands of grass. I picked off the easy fish first pitching the Z-Man paddletail up to the scrawny vegetation and swimming it back to the boat. Then, when the fish got wise to the moving bait, I floated the Sassy Stingum beneath a slip float and mopped up dinner.

anglers fishing black crappie ontario

I was using a 7 1/2-foot-long medium light action spinning rod spooled with a 4-pound test Sufix Nanobraid and a two-foot Maxima fluorocarbon leader. I attached a bobber stop to the line, slid on a slip float and then tied on a 1/16-ounce Moon Eye Jig and tipped it with the Sassy Stingum. The key to the presentation was not moving the bait at all, but rather, letting the float dangle it in front of the crappies’ eyes. It is always important, too, not to set the hook hard and rip the little jig out of a crappie’s soft mouth. So, when you see your float go down, just tighten up on the line and you’ve got him.

Autumn is here, folks, and the Ontario fall crappie hunt is in full swing.

About Gord Pyzer

Gord Pyzer is the fishing editor of Outdoor Canada magazine and field editor of In-Fisherman magazine. He is the co-host of the Real Fishing Radio Show and host of Fish Talk With The Doc.

Recommended Articles

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

10 Facts About Lake of the Woods

10 facts amazing about this massive Northwest Ontario Lake!

Cash in on Early Season Walleyes

Opening day of the walleye season in Ontario is one of the most-anticpiated dates for anglers..

Top 5 Musky Destinations in Ontario

The Musky Hunter shows you where to land the best musky in Ontario waters.

Spring Perch Fishing

Use These Tips on Your Next Ontario Fishing Trip

Spring Fishing Tips For Any Angler

Increase your chance of fishing success

The Legendary Brook Trout of the Albany

Experience a once in a lifetime remote fishing adventure.

Eating Northern Pike

The Best Recipe to Cook This Fish

Fishing and Foraging

Add some fresh foods and forage to your fishing adventures!

Leuenberger Air Service Is Your Ticket to Ontario's Best Fishing

Discover remote outpost fishing for northern pike, walleye, and whitefish

Algonquin Brook Trout

A Fishing and Canoe Trip on Algonquin's Upper Nipissing River

Top 5 Baits for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

What baits do you use to target bass? Find out why these 5 are the best!

5 Canoe & Kayak Fishing Destinations

Where to go canoe and kayak fishing in Ontario.

Top 5 Tips To Fish Smallmouth Bass in Ontario

Ontario has some of the top smallmouth bass opportunities. in the world.

Steelhead of the Upper Ganaraska

Known to most trout and salmon anglers as one of Ontario’s most popular fishing destinations.

Top Flies for Northern Pike

Try These Go-to Flies and Tips on Your Next Trip

Bass Fishing at Agnew Lake Lodge

This family-owned lodge is the perfect base for excellent angling adventures in Northeastern Ontario.

Goulais River Muskie

A Hidden Gem for Ontario Muskie

Fish for Canadian Musky Success

A simple strategy for catching muskies, fish as many islands as possible.

Top 10 Fly Patterns for Brook Trout

Learn Brook Trout Fly Pattern Choices for Surface Fly Fishing