Do Crappie Bite at Night?
Yes, Crappie will often feed on larger prey like frogs or crayfish at night. This may also make them more difficult to catch because they’re not as active during the day when people usually go fishing.
Do you have any other questions about crappie? Leave your question below and I’ll get back to you shortly with an answer!
What are Crappie?

Crappie are freshwater fish that live in North America. They are a popular game fish and can be found in many fishing lakes, rivers, and streams across the continent.
What is the best time of day to catch crappie?
Evening And Early Morning
In the case of crappie, the best time to catch them is during their feeding time, which is most frequently between the hours of midnight and 2 am. Additionally, during dawn and dusk can be good times to catch them, with many of them also feeding during these twilight hours.
How do you fish for crappie at night?
Fishing for Crappie at night can be very rewarding as Crappie like to feed at night especially during the summer months. Here are 5 tips night fishing tips.
You need a light to fish at night
If you plan on going fishing at night you will need to consider taking a flash light with you. I know that most smartphones have their own flashlight apps but I do my best not to use my phone when out on the water. I don’t want to dry another one out; been there, done that.
Since then I started carrying this GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight. It is compact, comes in a 2 pack and is perfect for carrying in your bag.
I chose a LED light because it is efficient and doesn’t attract bugs like other lights.
Find a good spot to fish
This one is self-explanatory. Go to your little honey hole at night – it might surprise you, it may be even better at night. Choose one that you know has a good environment for Crappie. Crappie likes a good cover system and a dense population of food sources as they are ferocious eaters.
Crappies spend a lot of time in thick cover like flooded timber, brush piles, open pockets of weeds and tall jungles.
Fish in the dark using glow-in-the-dark lures or bobbers
It is a great idea to use some sort of glow in the dark element when fishing at night. There are a few options here when it comes to glow in the dark fishing gear. You could go the glowing bobber, glowing lure or even the glowing fishing line.
All of these options can help you see what is going on when out there in the dark. I carry both of these in my night fishing bag (yes, I have one of those), Thkfish Fishing Floats Fishing Bobbers and the Stren High Impact Monofilament
Use live bait, such as worms or minnows
There really isn’t a way around this. Live bait is best for night fishing as it provides the movement to attract the Crappie. Weedless jigs are one ticket to ferreting out slabs from such places but adding live minnows can often be the best way to put fish on board.
Can you catch crappie at night without a light?
You can catch hot-weather crappie during daylight hours, especially during cloudy periods or when water is muddy. But the odds for success improve if you fish the hours between dusk and dawn. During summer, many crappie work the late shift, and crappie anglers should, too.
Does a crappie bite on a full moon?
For example, it seems that activity increases as the full moon nears, and some anglers find that the best crappie fishing can take place in twilight or at night about four to five days prior to the full moon.
Have a Plan
You’ll have to be clever and quick if you want to stay on the fish. When it’s time for night fishing, make sure you plan ahead so that your boat is positioned at a hot spot before things get dark.
Creek channel edges are perfect because they’re hidden from view but easy enough to find when the sun goes down – just don’t forget about deep points or channels running under bridges!
Mark these spots well with GPS so that even in complete darkness, you can quickly head back into action without any trouble whatsoever…
If you need a good GPS system, I recommend going with the Garmin eTrex 10 Worldwide Handheld GPS Navigator to mark the spots on your route.
It’s also a good idea to organize your poles and tackle during daylight hours so you can easily find what you need in the dim glow of a lantern. Wear a life jacket, kill switch, and be sure that all running lights on the boat are functioning properly.
With hot summer’s weather upon us, those who love crappie fishing take their fishing to the dark. The most effective way to catch crappie is during the late night hours when bats are flying and the moon’s out. Crappie fishermen know that many of them work better at this time, so it might be a good idea for you to do the same if you want some fresh fish on your dinner plate before noon comes around!
Know the Process
Night fishermen use floating and submersible lights that aid in attracting crappie to their fishing spots. The plankton, attracted by the lighted water, attract baitfish which then attracts bigger fish like crappies who will stay near enough for you to catch them!
Understanding this process is important when night-fishing as well as understanding how long it takes before you can expect a bite from your prey. Give yourself time after placing your lights; if there are any signs of movement or gathering around the lit area – be sure to drop some baits and lures immediately afterwards!
You can either use floating or submersible lights alone, but combinations tend to work better. One light shines down from the surface and another illuminates what’s below in order for fishers to tie lures and hooks, bait their rigs with fish etcetera.
You’ll want to get a lantern, headlamp or spotlight in the boat so you can see what you’re doing while tying lures and hooks.
Also, check out our articles in Freshwater Fishing or Saltwater Fishing!