Whaley has determined that Weiss crappie prefer deeper water than do other species of fish in the lake. “A good rule of thumb is if you are catching white bass and stripers, you are trolling too fast,” the guide advised. “Adjust your speed and slow down until you begin catching crappie.”

Whaley begins his trolling day pulling jigs on a 1/16-ounce head early and then switches to a 1/32 ounce through the day as crappie move up within the water column. The Weiss veteran explained that the key to long-line trolling is depth of presentation.

Three factors work together to determine if a crappie jig pulls above where the crappie are feeding, below the fish where it’s likely to not get noticed, or in the strike zone. “Boat speed, jig weight, and the amount of line out all determine how deep I’m fishing,” Whaley said in summing them up.

To begin the season, Whaley starts with a 1/16-ounce jig pulled 50 feet behind the boat at a speed of less that a mile per hour. Based on this combination of variables, he knows his jigs will be ticking the tops of the brush at 8 feet.

As the season progresses, he alters his variables to match the depths at which the crappie are holding. Other factors that influence this depth include the diameter of line used, water currents, and wind currents.

Long-line trolling is efficient down to depths of 12 to 15 feet, below which a vertical presentation of weighted baits is usually more effective.

The exact depth of presentation varies with minor details, as each boat is set up a little different than the next. Mixing jig weights is not usually a good idea, as different weights causes lines to cross during trolling turns. Tying two jigs on one line adds weight, tracks deeper and can help define the depth preferred by the crappie, but also causes complications while making turns.

Armed with a variable speed trolling motor and a combination fishfinder-GPS unit, Whaley can tailor his offerings to the level that holds the most crappie.

Even the experts have a hard time picking one area of Weiss Lake that has better crappie fishing than another, which is probably the reason the impoundment is touted as the “Crappie Capital of the World.” Most guides have a favorite location simply because they are more familiar with it than some other locations.

When pressed, Whaley indicated that he can always count on Trotter’s Cove, Yellow Creek, and Big Nose Creek as places to find willing slabs. The guide’s final recommendation: Have several locations that offer shelter from heavy winds out of various headings mapped out. Such conditions are a recurrent problem at this time of year.