Do you think a light is effective in catching more crappies at night, or is it a gimmick? Would a light help during ice fishing

[Charley]

Do you think a light is effective in catching more crappies at night, or is it a gimmick? Would a light help during ice fishing at night?

[Alex Pernice the fly rod winner]

They supposedly attract minnows, which then would bring in gamefish, so... give it a try ant tell me what happens.

[dwaynez]

I have used a green and blue light while crappie fishing from a pier and from a boat, we did catch more crappie for the reason stated by alex, the baitfish came in and the crappie followed.

[Del in KS]

I grew up in Lake county Florida. Near my home there was a lake with a highway bridge across the middle with a large lighted sign that reflected on the water at one end. Every Spring we would catch buckets full of Crappie (we call them Speckled Perch in Fla) at night fishing under that sign. I currently live in Kansas and last time I went home to visit saw the sign is not there anymore. Try it thru the ice. My guess is it will work but use very light line.

[Jim in Mo]

It does work and don't forget to fish the outer edges of the light too, some of the big boys lurk out there.

[Beekeeper]

Night fishing under lights is very effecive on southern lakes. The light attacts the baitfish and the baitfish attract predators like crappie. I like to net the small shad that come to the light for bait. Same trick works for spotted sea trout. I don't see why it wouldn't work for ice fishing.

[jbonifer24]

What happens is the light atrracts smaller organisms, that attract the baitfish, that attract the crappie. As long as you have the baitfish coming in, you'll always have the gamefish. I agree with Jim in Mo, work that outer edge it can pay off with some slabs.

[rudyglove27]

It works fine to me!

[rudyglove27]

It works fine to me!