Mini Boards Yield Slab Crappie
BY JAKE ROMANACK
Not long ago I teamed up with Off Shore Tackle pro staffer Mike Six to target crappie on Ohio’s Hoover Reservoir. The goal was to showcase this unique fishery on an episode of Fishing 411 TV while catching some slab crappie using crankbaits, jigs as well as the OR38 Awesome Crappie Board. Hoover Reservoir is unique in that there is a 9.9 horsepower limit on this body of water. We opted to use the Smoker Craft Phantom X2-20 OS that is equipped with a 9.9 HP kicker motor. The only time we used the 250 HP main engine was during launching and loading!
Three-Way Swivel Rigs
One of the most popular ways of catching crappie on Hoover Reservoir involves using a three-way swivel rig that incorporates a diving crankbait on the bottom lead and an action style jig on the top lead. The crankbait dives and tends to catch the more active fish. Meanwhile, the jig goes along for the ride and produces bonus fish that aren’t interested in the crankbait. This one-two punch is amazingly effective on crappie all summer long.
The crappie crankbait of choice on Hoover has long been the 300 series Bandit. On this particular trip the 300 Bandit proved its worth, but the Yakima Bait 3.0 Mag Lip also came through big on slab crappie. Mike Six recommends a Crappie Magnet 1/16-ounce jig known as the Fin Spin. This jig features a darter style head and a small willow leaf attractor blade. The body of the jig features hand tied skirts that do an excellent job of imitating a minnow.
Black And White Crappie
Hoover Reservoir harbors an excellent population of both black and white crappie ranging in size from 10 to 15 inches. The day we filmed, our crew boated about 40 slabs before lunch, a typical day for Hoover Reservoir.
Or38 Awesome Crappie Board
The OR38 Awesome Crappie Board played a major role in spreading out our gear and covering the maximum amount of water. We fished this in-line board just the way it comes out of the package with the OR10 (yellow) line release on the bracket and the OR16 (red) Pro Clip on the tail of the board.
When a fish was hooked, the OR38 would drag backwards in the water from the weight of the struggling fish. Tripping the line (10-pound test monofilament) from the bracket release was easy and only required a light snap of the rod tip. Meanwhile, the OR16 Pro Clip kept the board pegged in place on the line.
This rigging method makes it easy to stack multiple lines per side of the boat. Because the OR38 is very light, when fish are hooked the board lifts out of the water, making it very easy to fight fish without worrying about clearing lines.
Timing Matters
The crankbait bite on Hoover gets started in June and lasts all summer long. In the fall and early spring when the water is cold, jigs long lined behind boards produce the majority of the fish.
About The Show
The episode filmed on Hoover Reservoir will appear on national TV via Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network and Sportsman Canada beginning in January 2023. This episode will also be available on the Fishing 411 TV YouTube channel and on MyOutdoorTV.com.
