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Gear checklist · 11 items

What to Bring Crappie Fishing in Tennessee

Tennessee is a crappie state: Reelfoot, Kentucky Lake, Percy Priest and Chickamauga.

The checklistAll gear checklists

The checklist

Crappie gear checklist

Tennessee is a crappie state: Reelfoot, Kentucky Lake, Percy Priest and Chickamauga. A long pole and a box of small jigs does most of the work, with a minnow bucket for the days they want live bait.

PoleB’n’M Buck’s Graphite jig pole, 10 ftReach brush piles and dock edges without casting over them.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
RodUgly Stik Elite 6 ft 6 in light spinning rodFor casting jigs under a float along riprap and creek channels.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ReelPflueger Trion 25 spinning reelSmall, smooth, and cheap enough to own two.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
LineBerkley Trilene XL, 6 lbLimp mono that casts a 1/16 oz jig and shows a light bite.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Jig bodiesBobby Garland Baby Shad, 2 inThe standard crappie plastic in Tennessee. Carry monkey milk and blue ice.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
JigheadsCrappie jigheads, 1/16 and 1/32 oz, size 2 hookLight heads for a slow fall around brush.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
FloatThill Crappie Cork slip floatSet the depth once you find them and keep the jig there.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ScentBerkley Crappie NibblesA nibble on the hook turns short strikes into fish in cold water.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Live baitFrabill insulated minnow bucketKeeps minnows alive through a July afternoon.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
HooksEagle Claw Aberdeen hooks, size 2Light wire for minnows. Bend out of a snag instead of breaking off.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ElectronicsGarmin Striker 4 fish finderFinding brush piles is most of crappie fishing from a boat.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

These are affiliate links. Buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it is how the site stays free.

Where to use it

Tennessee water for crappie

49 lakes and rivers on this site hold crappie. These are a few; each page lists every public access point.

Where to use itBarren ForkPublic access, limits and what else swims in Barren Fork.See the spots →Where to use itBoone LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Boone Lake.See the spots →Where to use itCalf Killer RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Calf Killer River.See the spots →Where to use itCenter Hill LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Center Hill Lake.See the spots →Where to use itCheatham LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Cheatham Lake.See the spots →Where to use itCherokee LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Cherokee Lake.See the spots →

Bigger purchases

Gear compared for crappie trips

The electronics, motors, boats and batteries that cost real money, compared side by side with the Tennessee water each one suits. Affiliate links.

Fish Finders
BudgetGarmin Striker 4$120MiddleHumminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4N$700TopGarmin LiveScope Plus LVS34 bundle$1,500
Compare all 6 →
Trolling Motors
BudgetMinn Kota Endura C2 30$150MiddleMotorGuide Xi3 55 lb Freshwater GPS$1,150TopMinn Kota Ultrex QUEST 90/115$3,500
Compare all 6 →
Lithium Marine Batteries
BudgetLiTime 12V 100Ah LiFePO4$250MiddleBattle Born 12V 100Ah$850TopDakota Lithium 36V 63Ah$1,700
Compare all 6 →
All gear compared

Other checklists

Gear for other Tennessee fishing

Largemouth BassSmallmouth BassBluegill and PanfishCatfishStriper and HybridWalleye and SaugerTroutMuskyKayak and Float TripBank and Pier Fishing

Common questions

Crappie gear questions

What do I need to go crappie fishing in Tennessee?

The 11 items on this page: B’n’M Buck’s Graphite jig pole, 10 ft, Ugly Stik Elite 6 ft 6 in light spinning rod, Pflueger Trion 25 spinning reel, Berkley Trilene XL, 6 lb, Bobby Garland Baby Shad, 2 in, Crappie jigheads, 1/16 and 1/32 oz, size 2 hook and the rest of the list above. A Tennessee fishing license for anyone 13 or older.

What rod for crappie?

B’n’M Buck’s Graphite jig pole, 10 ft. Reach brush piles and dock edges without casting over them.

What size jig for crappie?

1/16 oz is the all-around size. Drop to 1/32 oz in cold, clear water and go up to 1/8 oz in wind or current.

Jigs or minnows for crappie?

Both. Jigs cover water in spring and fall; a minnow under a float is hard to beat in winter and on pressured lakes like Percy Priest.

How much does a crappie setup cost?

A rod, reel, line and the first three or four baits on this list is a modest start; the rest can be added a trip at a time. Prices are on Amazon, and bait shops in the county you fish carry most of it too.

Are these affiliate links?

Yes. Each link goes to Amazon with this site’s tag. It costs you nothing extra and pays for the site. Nothing on the list was chosen for commission; it is what works on Tennessee water.

Can I buy this gear locally instead?

Yes. Every county page on this site lists the bait shops, marinas and big box stores that carry tackle, with phone numbers and directions.

Keep going

More Tennessee water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits