Don’t forget that crappies love lures that really glow. Blast your glow jigs and spoons with a Lindy Tazer or a Northland Glo Buster to really get it beaming.

Don't jig aggressively for crappie; just wiggle your bait lightly in front of the fish. Tapping your index finger on the rod blank will provide a subtle vibration to the jig.

Crappie bites will be relatively soft and are sometimes almost imperceptible.

That's where a slip float comes in.  A slip float allows you to suspend a lure in deep water, but more importantly, it signals even the wimpiest bite. I prefer the Northland Lite Bite or Thill’s Mini-Stealth, Center Sliders and Ice‘n Fly Special floats for this type of presentation.

If you're on a school of "Gulpers" (On Ice Terminology for fish that are chompin’) the float will plunge on the strike. Other times, the float will jiggle, dip slightly or even move upwards in the water (also known as: a lift bite). All these actions register a strike. Lift softly on the rod or better yet, just reel up on the fish and keep reeling until it's out of the hole. 

Crappie may be the all round best winter sport fish. They bite well all season long and they're one of the easiest fish to catch for anglers of all ages. Because they are forage fish that propagate and replenish themselves quickly, at the end of a long day on the ice, you can keep enough for a fresh family feed without any qualms. Fry them up crispy with some potatoes and a side order of beans and you will be hooked for life. That's a piping hot cure for the curious crappie fever.

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Editor’s Note: On Ice Tour, co-founded by Chip Leer and Tommy Skarlis, is an extensive effort focusing on generating excitement for the great sport of ice fishing. For more articles, fishing tips, info on the latest and greatest ice gear or a schedule of On Ice Tour Pro Staff appearances, log onto www.onicetour.com Gord Ellis is a freelance writer from Thunder Bay Ontario and pro-staff member for the On Ice Tour