Crappie are one of the most popular gamefish in the U.S.—and for good reason. They’re fun to catch for anglers of any skill level, put up a good fight, and can grow to impressive sizes.

“I just wanted to catch a fish, so I took off the jig and put on an earthworm with a bobber ... grabbed the line above the fish and pulled it onto the bank.” Teresa didn’t think it was a crappie at ...