Title: Mastering Post-Spawn Crappie: Techniques and Tactics for Summertime Weedline Success
Understanding Seasonal Crappie Movements
Post-Spawn Crappie are notorious for their seasonal migrations. Throughout the year, these fish transition between shallow and deep-water environments. In the spring, crappies can be found in back bays and shallow depths of 1 to 4 feet. As the summer heats up, they move to main lake weed points in depths ranging from 8 to 15 feet. Come fall and into the winter months, they retreat to deeper basin areas, often 25 to 30 feet down.
Successfully catching crappies throughout these seasonal transitions requires three key components: following the fish, utilizing quality electronics, and adjusting presentation techniques. Importantly, because crappies often travel in large schools, they can be efficiently located using sonar. In this episode of Angling Edge, Al and Dan Lindner focus on locating and catching post-spawn crappies—those trophy-sized fish that signal the early summer peak. 
Post-Spawn Crappie on the Move
Al kicks off the day with a prediction: big crappies are on the menu. After a bit of solo scouting the day before, he knew what was waiting for Dan. With cooler-than-usual spring weather delaying the weed growth in Central Minnesota lakes, fishing conditions were about three weeks behind schedule. The duo positioned themselves in 8 to 9 feet of water, casting into shallower 6 to 7-foot zones. The key? Finding sparse weed beds that attract early-moving post-spawn fish.
Dan and Al deployed different tactics to identify what the crappies wanted: Dan used a swimming jig, while Al opted for a float rig. As they worked the area, it became clear that the fish were relating to those sparse, early-growing weed clumps. These transition zones, where new weeds develop on the first drop-off, act as magnets for big post-spawn females—often the first to leave the shallows.
Fine-Tuning Presentations: Float vs. Swim Jig
The strategy was simple but effective: both anglers carried two rods—one rigged with a float and another with a swim jig. While Al focused on suspending his bait above the weeds, Dan experimented with countdown techniques to swim his jig just over the tops of weed patches. By counting down before retrieving—”one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand,” and so on—he dialed in the perfect depth where fish were holding.
One lesson they emphasized: never fish the same bait at the same depth with both rods. Varying presentation not only helps determine what the crappies prefer that day but also increases the total number of fish caught. As Dan demonstrated, sometimes a slightly deeper swimming jig catches more fish than a float setup—even when both are working.
Identifying Prime Weedlines with Electronics
Locating productive weed edges isn’t a guessing game when you have quality electronics. Using side imaging sonar, Al and Dan were able to spot isolated weed clumps spread over a 100-yard stretch. Instead of blindly casting, they used these visuals to target their efforts and fish more efficiently. In early summer, these weed edges are sparse but extremely productive for a brief window—usually about two weeks—before the vegetation thickens and the fish bury themselves in the cover.
At this time of year, when the fish are actively feeding and visible on electronics, anglers can present baits right in front of their faces with high confidence. Later in the summer, those same fish become more elusive, only emerging in low light or evening hours.
Gear Breakdown: Rods, Jigs, and Line
Dan shared details about the jig he was using—a creation developed in partnership with Big Bite Baits and named the Lindner’s Panfish Jig. This micro-sized jig features a marabou tail, a rounded body, and a hook design suitable for vertical and cast-style presentations. The jig’s small profile and subtle action make it ideal for picky post-spawn crappies.
For line, the team ran four-pound test Sufix fluorocarbon leaders paired with Sufix NanoBraid. This ultra-light setup ensures that the small baits can move naturally and remain undetectable to line-shy fish. They emphasized that one of the most common mistakes in panfishing is using line and baits that are too heavy. When in doubt, lighter is better.
Making Adjustments on the Water
As the bite pattern developed, both anglers remained flexible. They alternated between setups, adjusted colors, and continually fine-tuned their approach based on fish response. Al noted that crappies can be highly color-sensitive, so switching to a darker jig produced immediate results when the bite slowed.
Dan also reminded viewers of a subtle but important tip: always ensure your knot is centered so the bait runs horizontally. If the knot slides, causing the jig to tilt, it can dramatically reduce your catch rate.
Their adaptability paid off as they continued to land chunky, aggressive crappies—some of which rivaled small bass in size. “Get the net,” Dan exclaimed after hooking another slab. “It’s one of those that thinks it’s a bass!”
Premium Rods and Panfish Perfection
In their pursuit of weedline slabs, both Al and Dan relied on high-quality gear. Dan showcased his St. Croix Avid Panfish rods, purpose-built for sensitivity, lightweight casting, and fighting finesse. Having the right rod not only helps detect subtle bites but also improves overall control and efficiency when casting or jigging through vegetation.
Whether float-fishing or swimming a jig, rod choice plays a huge role in presentation quality and bite detection—especially in early summer when crappies are transitioning and scattered.
