As you know from fishing reports this year, the crappie fishing on Lake Conroe is premier. It is safe to say that Lake Conroe is one of the best crappie lakes in the state this season. Many of us Lake Conroe anglers have spent a significant amount of time targeting these "papermouths," honing our specific tricks of the trade.

There are definitely plenty of ways to fill a boat with crappie, and it is hard to say which method is truly the best. Some veteran crappie fishing enthusiasts will suggest using jigs under the 1097 bridge, sinking minnows around timber, or using a minnow-jig combination in the creek channels. While all of these methods work, my time spent fishing Lake Conroe as a guide has led me to develop a specific rig that works wonders.

The rig I use on my boat applies several key principles to Texas crappie fishing. Anytime you are fishing near the bottom, in brush, or around standing timber, your rig must be somewhat weedless; otherwise, you will spend all your time snagged and re-tying. Furthermore, when fishing in off-colored water, a noise-making device within the rig helps attract fish.

With this in mind, a weedless rig that creates sound is the ultimate way to go. This setup requires a 1/0 crappie hook, two 10mm Top Brass glass beads, and a Top Brass 3/8 oz brass weight. To assemble it:

1. Slide the line through the eye of the hook.

2. Slide the line through the brass weight, then through both glass beads.

3. Tie the line to the second glass bead.

4. Move the hook up the line, away from the weight and beads, about one foot.

5. Pull the hook to the side so the line doubles, and tie a double knot in the doubled line about three inches from the hook.

6. Pull the hook away from that knot and tie another knot between the eye of the hook and the double knot.

To fish this crappie rig, drop it to the bottom or your desired depth. If the hook becomes snagged, do not pull the line tight. Simply lower your rod tip and let the weight fall to dislodge the hook.

The brass and glass components create a clicking sound that mimics a crawfish kicking its tail for propulsion, which naturally attracts fish. Occasionally jig or shake the rig to engage the sound; often, a strike will occur immediately after the clicking. This is an excellent month to utilize this fishing technique, especially since recent flooding has left the water off-color. Just be sure to keep a lookout for floating debris and logs caused by the high water. Good luck fishing!