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.

I think I’ve figured out a way to make a trip to the coast and a visit to a pier a lot more successful. It involves Berkley GULP! Swimming Mullets, a good flounder rig with a float and a sharp circle ...