As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Crappie fishing is a common hobby and remarkably popular amongst people because it can be found in virtually any body of water, it’s a productive type of fishing and, crappies are ridiculously tasty. And if you are fishing at night, you would need the best bait for night crappie fishing.
Contents
My Top Night Crappie Fishing Baits Recommendations
Crappie is a freshwater fish species in the widely-recognized sunfish family with popular members such as bass, walleye, and catfish. Professional anglers have come up with multiple techniques for night fishing. To successfully execute these techniques, one requires the perfect bait that these species will chew up instantly. With my guide, you would undoubtedly be catching crappie for days.
Best Overall Bait for Night Crappie Fishing: Jaitai Fishing Jig Heads Freshwater Fishing Lures
The Jaitai Fishing Jig Heads Freshwater Fishing Lures is a premium bait for night crappie fishing that is renowned for its catchability. It has a simple and modern structure alongside a plastic-manufactured willow leaf blade that continuously produces a bright flash, which appears irresistible to both black and white crappie.
One of its astonishing components is its gleaming 3D eye that offers inarguably the best visibility compared to other crappie baits. Also, the jaitai fishing jig head comes with a piercing lazer-sharp jig that perfectly hooks to a crappie’s delicate mouth. Its design is uniquely structured to a bend that contributes to overall optimum performance. The effectiveness of this bait during night fishing is unsurpassed.
This is credited to the five diverse colors the bait is available in which provides maximum color visibility in any specific body of water that in turn aids crappie attraction. This feature guarantees anglers of catching a decent number of crappie in record time. However, the Facikono Crankbait Set Crappie Lures offers more colors compared to the Jaitai Fishing Jig head, and this limits its versatility.
Pros
- 3D eye for optimum visibility for crappie attraction
- Vibrant colors suitable for any water condition
- Rotating willow leaf blade for vivid appearance
Cons
- The willow leaf blade tends to be static in water
- Limited color hinders versatility
- 【Fishing Lure Jig Heads Design】:Equipped with realistic 3D eyes and a willow leaf blade, makes...
- 【Fishing Lures for Bass】 ：Different weights and colors give you a good selection. Five...
- 【Saltwater Fishing Lures Material】 : Heads is made of lead，Vibrant color and long-lasting...
Best Versatile Bait for Night Crappie Fishing: Facikono Crankbait Set Crappie Lures
Made from resilient ABS material, the Facikono Crankbait Set Crappie Lures is perhaps the most dynamic and versatile bait for fishing crappie at night. Its sturdy material promises lifelong durability and permanence. This rotund crankbait features a rigid hook and a double ultra-sharp treble hook that enables rapid penetration from different angles. In comparison, the Facikono crankbait pierces quicker than the Jaitai Fishing Jig Heads.
One important feature to note in this fishing lure is its high-level buoyancy which helps in topwater running. Courtesy of its extended gill, this lure is ideal for deep water fishing and excellent in wriggling in tight spaces where crappie is most comfortable. In addition, the crankbait is accompanied by metal ball rattles that create a thumping sound that easily attracts crappie in the dead of night, a feature other products on this list do not possess.
Within the scope of appearance, this crappie fishing bait ticks all boxes. It has a realistic outlook on the water with a well-painted naturalistic eye vivid to crappie. Also, it is available in a variety of colors that illuminates ample light for night fishing. With this bait, you can expect to attract crappie and other fish species.
Pros
- Sharp treble hook for rapid penetration
- Metal rattle balls that creates sound for attracting crappie
- Wide diving gill for deepwater fishing
- Variety of colors for different bodies of water
Cons
- It breaks easily if not carefully handled
- The bait sometimes has a foul smell that could be irritating
- What You Get: 12PCS big and chubby crankbaits (3.94 inches) in 12 different vivid colors. Fantastic...
- Crankbait with Rattles: Metal balls inside the separated channel of body cause a nice soft enticing...
- Fishing Topwater Lure: Big crankbait features high buoyancy, making it excellent for shallow water...
Best Reliable Bait for Night Crappie Fishing: Strike King Mr. Crappie Thunder Bait
The Strike King Mr. Crappie Thunder Bait is a simple and traditional fish-catching crappie bait that gets the job done. It is considered a consistent go-to meal for both black and white crappie. Mr. Crappie Thunder Bait has a tube-like appearance that features a glittering tail, which is also known as the skirt, and does a good job attracting crappie.
Contrastingly, the Jaitai Fishing Jig Heads Freshwater Fishing Lure boasts of greater plastic quality than Mr. Crappie Thunder Bait’s plastic tail. Regardless, the lure is excellent for fishing crappie at night; it boasts of a chubby and rock-solid body structure capable of pulling through tall grass and trees in the water. Its beefy looks make it easily identifiable by crappie when immersed in any body of water.
Additionally, its tentacle-mirrored tails can be trimmed to modify the lure profile. The bait’s adaptable profile makes it the most reliable product on my list. Strike King Mr. Crappie has an extensive color selection that can be used in both murky water and freshwater. However, this product lacks solid colors such as black and red. For the most part, this bait is an excellent option that guarantees consistency.
Pros
- Modifiable glittering tail to alter bait profile
- Chubby tube with spreading tentacles that attract multiple crappies in an area
- Unfailing quality crappie returns
Cons
- Lacks top-grade colors such as red and black
- Plastic material lacks in durability and may reduce the longevity of bait
- Big and bulky profile
- Solid body and tube-like skirt
- Tough enough to pull through heavy cover
Features to Consider in the Best Bait for Night Crappie Fishing
Most of the time, crappie tends to reside in deep water areas with wooden structures and dense forests. This is a habitual practice amongst them because shades and covers make them feel safe. In light of this, you should ensure that certain features are present in your bait for night fishing that will easily attract crappie.
| Jaitai Fishing Jig Heads Freshwater Fishing Lures | Facikono Crankbait Set Crappie Lures | Strike King Mr. Crappie Thunder Bait | |
| Visibility | 3D eye and rotating willow leaf blade | Realistic eye with diverse colors | Gleaming glitter tail |
| Jighead | Lazer sharp jighead | Double ultra-sharp treble hook | No jighead |
| Sound | No sound | Metal rattle balls | No sound |
Visibility
For a productive night of crappie fishing, you need a bait with ample visibility that is vivid to crappie. Crappie can see contrasting colors plus they can also see light in the dark. Therefore, if you’re going night crappie fishing, your bait must have maximum visibility so you can successfully lure out a decent number of crappie. Colors such as green, orange, and lime are excellent colors to explore and the Jaitai Fishing Jig Heads offers a variety.
Jighead
Crappie feeds intensely during the day and at night. When they rapidly latch onto your lure, you require a laser-sharp jighead that firmly grasps onto their mouth. Despite being nicknamed papermouths because of their delicate mouth, they can still put on a fight.
For this reason, ensure the bait you purchase has a high-quality and durable jighead that remains sharp in and out of water. Your bait may attract multiple crappies depending on where you fish.
Therefore, it’s advisable to purchase a bait with double hooks that can effectively pierce a crappie’s mouth. The Facikono Crankbait Set Crappie Lures and Jaitai Fishing Jig Heads are ideal examples of baits with an effective jighead.
Noise
Like most fish species in the sunfish family, crappie has a relatively functional sense of hearing. Crappie can hear underwater sounds and waves and because of this, they are bound to follow vibrations or thumping sounds.
Consequently, using a bait that produces noise or any form of sound is a no-brainer. With this feature, you will probably rake in a boatload of crappie. My go-to crappie bait with this feature is the Facikono Crankbait Set Crappie Lures; a reliable lure that gets the job done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crappie Fishing Better at Night?
Yes, crappie fishing is better at night. This is because their most active feeding time is between the hours of midnight and 2 am. Therefore, fishing at night is a good guarantee of a haul. You could also target crappie at dawn and dusk because a good number of them love to feed at twilight too.
You should note that crappie are both nocturnal and diurnal fish, implying that they are active both at night and during the day. At night, murky areas of the water would be a good bet for where they would choose to congregate.
Can Crappie Eat Anything?
Yes, Crappie can eat just about anything. Like catfish and walleye, they are opportunistic fish species that will consume a variety of food. However, they are more attracted to terrestrial insects such as crawfish and crayfish and also small amphibians.
When is the Best Month for Night Crappie Fishing?
The best months for night crappie fishing is between February and June. In addition, good time period is about two hours before dark. These months are regarded as the spawning season and crappie are often concentrated in shallow areas. Crappie can be fished around the year.
Conclusion
Crappie fishing after dark is as productive as fishing for crappie during any other time of the day. For total success, it’s imperative that your bait for night crappie fishing possess the necessary features that will easily attract crappie in no time.