by Terry Robertson
When the summer sun beats down and temperatures soar into the 90s and 100s, many fishermen hang their rods up and retreat indoors. But for dedicated crappie chasers, summer isn’t the off-season—it’s the deep-season.
While the fish may leave the shallow brush piles and lily pads of spring behind, they’re far from uncatchable. In fact, the hot summer months can offer some of the best crappie fishing of the year for those who understand the seasonal patterns and are willing to adapt their approach.
Finding crappie in summer starts with understanding how the heat affects their behavior. Crappie are highly temperature-sensitive fish. In the spring, they flood the shallows to spawn, becoming easy targets for bank fishermen and boat anglers alike. But as the temperature climbs into the mid-80s and above, they abandon these spawning areas and head for deeper, cooler waters where the oxygen is better and the light is less intense. This migration can make them feel elusive, but they’re still there—just concentrated and often stacked up in very specific locations.
To get to the bottom of how to consistently locate and catch crappie in these hot months, we reached out to a local crappie guide in East Texas with years of experience targeting summer slabs on area lakes.
“Summer fishing can be just as good as spring fishing, the game is just a little different,” says Hut Reeves, a bass and crappie guide in East Texas. “In the heat, crappie are all about comfort. They want cool water temperatures, oxygen, and cover. That usually means brush piles, standing timber, and creek channels in 15 to 25 feet of water.”
Many Southern lakes are known for their underwater structure—brush piles put in by anglers, submerged timber fields from flooded creek beds, or natural drop-offs and ledges. During the summer, crappie gather on these structures like magnets. Electronics play a key role here. Side-scan and forward-facing sonar like Garmin LiveScope have revolutionized the way crappie are located in deep water. Reeves notes, “A few years ago, we were fishing blind. Now I can pull up to a brush pile and see how many crappie are on it, what depth they’re holding, and watch them bite the jig or minnow in real time. It’s definitely a game-changer.”
But even without high-tech electronics, crappie can still be located through methodical scouting. One effective technique is vertical jigging along creek channels and underwater ridges. This is especially productive on lakes like Lake Fork in Texas or Lake Oconee in Georgia, where structure is abundant and crappie hug tight to it. Anglers should focus on changes in bottom contour—those subtle bends or breaks where depth shifts suddenly, creating a comfortable holding spot for fish.
Hut Reeves, who is known for his precision with forward-facing sonar, emphasizes the importance of water clarity and thermoclines during summer. “If you’re fishing clear water, crappie might be suspended deeper—like 25 to 30 feet—just off brush piles. In muddy or stained water, they might hold a little shallower, but they’re still deeper than they were in the spring.” He also advises anglers to look for the thermocline, a distinct layer in the water column where temperature and oxygen levels rapidly change. “Crappie won’t go below the thermocline in summer. If you find it with your electronics, you can eliminate fishing a lot of dead water and concentrate on fishing productive areas.”
One of the most popular and effective summer tactics is dock shooting. This involves using ultralight spinning gear to “shoot” small jigs under docks into shaded, hard-to-reach spots where crappie love to congregate. “The shade under docks is 10 degrees cooler, and the crappie know it,” says Reeves.“If the dock has deep water under it—15 feet or more—and maybe a brush pile nearby, it’s almost guaranteed to hold fish.” The trick is in the technique, says Reeves. “You hold the jig like a slingshot, load the rod, and release it so it skips under the dock. It takes practice, but once you get it down, you can pull eight or ten fish out from under one dock.”
As for bait selection, summer crappie tend to be a bit more finicky than in spring. “They’ll eat,” says Reeves, “but you’ve got to put it right in their face.” Most guides recommend small-profile jigs—1/16 or even 1/32 ounce—paired with plastic bodies in natural or shad-like colors. Chartreuse and white, blue ice, and gold flake are favorites of Lake Fork locals. In deeper water, some anglers will tip jigs with minnows for added scent and movement, though purists often prefer artificial only.
Live bait can still shine, especially during the dog days of July and August when crappie get lethargic. Fishing live minnows on a tight-line rig or with a slip bobber allows for a slower, more tantalizing presentation. It’s particularly effective when fishing standing timber or submerged brush piles. On Lake Palestine, for example, Reeves swears by spider rigging with live bait during summer. “We will have several rods, all with minnows set at different depths. Once we find the right depth, we dial in and it’s game on.”
Crappie also feed during low light periods, making dawn, dusk, and night fishing very productive in summer. Night fishing with green lights is a tradition on Southern lakes, and for good reason. The light attracts plankton, which draws in baitfish, which then attracts crappie. “Some of my biggest summer slabs have come under lights,” says Reeves. “You anchor or spot-lock near a drop-off, drop your light in, and wait. Once the bait shows up, the crappie won’t be far behind.” It’s a slower-paced, relaxing way to fish, perfect for beating the heat and enjoying the night sky. This method attracts more than crappie, too. You’ll most likely pick up a bass or catfish or two. Catching a 5-pound blue cat on an ultra light rig is more fun than a frog in a glass of milk.
Patience is important when chasing summer crappie. Unlike the fast-paced bite of the spawn, summer crappie fishing is often a more deliberate process. You may have to fish several spots before you find a loaded pile, or work a school for ten minutes before they bite. Reeves advises anglers to pay attention to the details: “If you get a bump and miss, don’t leave. Drop it right back in. A lot of times they’ll hit again, especially if it’s a big one guarding the pile.”
Another key factor is boat control. In summer, especially with light jigs, controlling your depth and presentation speed is critical. A slight breeze can blow you off a pile in seconds. Many anglers use spot-lock trolling motors or anchor systems to stay precisely on target. “You’ve got to be on ‘em,” Reeves says. “If you’re a foot off, you might as well be fifty feet off.”
And while summer fishing is often about going deep, don’t overlook shallower brush early in the morning or during overcast days. Crappie can move up temporarily to feed, especially if baitfish are there. “Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean they’re deep all day,” Reeves adds. “You’ve got to be flexible and let the fish tell you what they want.”
Ultimately, success in summer crappie fishing comes down to adapting to seasonal changes and being willing to grind. It’s not always easy, but the rewards are worth it—big, fat slabs that fight hard and fry up beautifully. Plus, with most anglers off the water during the hot months, you often have the lake to yourself.
“You don’t need to wait until fall,” Reeves says with a grin. “The fish are there. You’ve just got to know where to look.”
So next time the mercury climbs and the air feels thick enough to cut with a fillet knife, don’t give up on crappie. Fire up the boat, load your jigs or minnows, and head for the nearest lake. With a little know-how and a bit of sweat, you might just stumble onto the hottest bite of the year—right in the middle of summer.
