Slab crappies are meat eaters—sure enough minnow munchers. They take artificials well at times, especially jigs—but big crappie will turn their noses at even the best of the best crappie lures.

Jerk baits, Alabama rigs, crank baits or jig and pigs are good lure choices for black bass, said Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers. Work them along rock or gravel points and rocky banks.

With all the recent fuss over fancy electronics and fishing accessories mounted to the front of the boat, the most critical link between the angler and fish is still the fishing line. It hasn’t seen ...