Crappie
1. Grenada Lake, Mississippi
If size is the measure of greatness, Grenada weighs in at the top of the leader board. The local tourism bureau touts Grenada as “The Home of the 3-Pound Crappie.” Natural lake fertility and good lake management certainly account for much of the lake’s consistent slab production, but Grenada also has the “X” factor that defies all analysis. “Records are broken here on a regular basis,” says crappie fishing legend Ronnie Capps, who caught seven Grenada “specks” topping the 3-pound mark over a five-day period – including a 3.66-pound monster. David Cox and Steve Hockett caught a mind-boggling 38.92-pound 14-fish Crappie Masters tournament record on Grenada at this year’s Mississippi State Championship. Perhaps even more impressive, the 25th-place sack weighed in at 34.73 pounds! And, oh yes, a new Crappie Masters “Big Fish” record – 3.87 pounds – weighed in on the same stage.
As a shallow, flood control impoundment, water levels dictate fish location. It helps to have a good local source on top of the fish movement. Best bet is to hire a knowledgeable guide such as John Harrison (johnharrison@wildblue.net). Brush piles and stumps located in or along creek channels are productive for much of the season. The daily creel limit for crappie is 20 per person or 50 per boat, with a 12-inch minimum length. Anglers may use up to three poles each, two hooks per pole.
2. Kentucky Lake, Kentucky
Man and Nature teamed to fashion crappie paradise at 160,300-acre Kentucky Lake. Season after season, it produces crappie by the boatful to pro and vacationing angler alike, which is why it has been one of the most popular fisheries on the planet for decades. "This lake is a consistent producer of great stringers of crappie, " says Ohio-based pro angler and crappie educator Russ Bailey. "From its renowned ledge fishing to the thousands of stake beds, planted cover and laydowns along the shoreline, this lake offers an incredible variety of patterns.” That means your favorite style of crappie fishing probably will work quite fine here! What accounts for its consistently big catches and big fish? Ronnie Capps credits the lake's stable water clarity and conditions for its consistent crappie production.
Family and fisherman-friendly accommodations with close access to Kentucky Lake and neighboring Lake Barkley abound. The 170,000-acre Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, a peninsula between the impounded Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, maintains diverse plant and animal communities. New habitat projects and other management efforts are ongoing.
Check out the Land Between the Lakes website (www.landbetweenthelakes.com) for lodging, dining and activity options. Guide Matt Morgan can help a newcomer shrink the lake; contact him at: matt.morgan@morganstriping.com
3. Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee
For consistently good numbers and quality fish year round, Reelfoot Lake is as good as it gets! Reelfoot is the home base of Ronnie Capps, who, with teammate Steve Coleman, has built a record-setting angling career and amassed seven national crappie championships. Their Reelfoot “research” lab has helped them amass $1.5 million in crappie tournament winnings. Capps credits Reelfoot’s consistency to water stability. “The water level doesn’t fluctuate more than three feet year round!” says Capps.
Of the waters on our list, Reelfoot may also have the most interesting history. A series of earthquakes created the lake in 1811 and 1812. Backdrop adds dimension to the superb angling! The quake-born oxbow lake remains a nature lover’s paradise, known for its haunting cypress trees and diverse wildlife, particularly its bald eagles and wide array of avian life.
The 15,000 acres of Reelfoot Lake State Park offers plenty of lake access, hiking trails and camping facilities. Expansion plans are currently in the works. The daily creel limit on crappie is 30, but if you’re still itching to angle after you’ve filled the legal limit, venture out after one of the many other species roaming Reelfoot’s waters. Largemouth bass up to seven pounds show up regularly…and there’s no limit on bluegill.
4. Weiss Lake, Alabama
This 30,200-acre impoundment may have been the first to stake an honest claim to being the “Crappie Capital of the World” before tourism barkers bought the rubber stamp.
“Weiss may not produce as many giant fish as it did 20 years ago, but the numbers keep this lake high on the list,” notes T.J. Stallings, director of marketing for TTI-Blakemore and co-founder of Crappie NOW magazine. “Weiss has an excellent population of both black and white crappie, and plenty of giants still come in each year.”
Long-line trolling often triggers the most strikes, but spider rigging with minnows over deep brush piles takes plenty of fish as well. And don’t hesitate to dust off that bow-and-arrow cast that you practiced as a kid. “Weiss also offers some of the best dock-shooting opportunities in the country,” claims Stallings.
Weiss, which takes its water from the Coosa, Chatooga and Little rivers offers structural variety, from shallow flats to deep river channels, with numerous coves contributing to its 447 shoreline miles. The size limit is 10 inches; daily bag limit is 30 per person. Veteran guide Darrell Baker can help put you on fish; darrell@weisslakecrappieguides.com .; cell 256-557-0129; main 256-927-2232.
For more lake information, check out: www.LakeWeiss.info
5. Sardis Lake, Mississippi
Water levels are again low at Sardis at this writing and reports say a winter die-off of threadfin shad has left fish a bit thinner than usual. But that isn’t likely to change the opinions of top crappie anglers about this blue ribbon water located on Mississippi’s I-55 crappie corridor. T.J. Stallings compares Sardis to Grenada, and many pros laud Sardis for its consistent limits and abundant slabs. “Sardis has an excellent population of big fish and great numbers,” says Russ Bailey. “It is one of my favorite summer lakes. Trolling crankbaits is my pattern of choice!” Ronnie Capps also credits Sardis for its consistent output of numbers and big fish -- “unless there is exceptional rainfall.” Kyle Schoenherr, former winner of the Alabama State Championship, believes the size of crappie has climbed steadily over the past five years. “The numbers of big fish there may even top Grenada,” he suggests.
Stake beds and wood cover are prime holding areas for Sardis crappie. Anglers are jigging or slow trolling with both jig and plastic combinations and live minnows. John W. Kyle State Park offers cabins and camping. Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) is only 25 miles away.
6. Ross Barnett Reservoir, Alabama/Mississippi
Does Alabama or Mississippi have the better crappie waters? Both states stake strong claims to the Number One spot, but Ross Barnett Reservoir adds one more loud vote in Mississippi’s favor! You can catch ‘em shallow or you can catch ‘em deep on this habitat-rich water. You will find segments of the RB crappie population relating to timber, stumps, aquatic vegetation and even lily pads and rip rap at one time or other during the season, and key combinations of cover and structure – especially along deep channels and other “ledges” -- may be crappie magnets for much of the season. Electronics can be critical at times. Standing timber predominates in the upper reservoir, where locating fish suspended in the water column can be a challenge. The lower reservoir offers classic structure- fishing opportunity.
The wide mix of habitat opens opportunity for a variety of presentations, too. Crappie love chartreuse here, especially in the spring. Pulling minnows or jigs along deep channels is popular, but don’t be afraid to open your arsenal and show ‘em something different. The nearby city of Jackson has most of what you will need.
Find lodging options at: rossbarnett.uslakes.info/Hotels.as
7. Alabama River, Alabama
Crappie Now’s T.J. Stallings swears that he lives to fish this crappie factory. That’s not just local pride for the Wetumpka, Alabama resident! The moody, scenic river – one of two local waters used in the filming of the movie “Big Fish” – produces BIG FISH, indeed! Crappie pro Kyle Schoenherr, who shared Alabama State Championship honors with teammate Rodney Neuhaus several years ago, credits an abundance of natural hybrids – crosses between black and white crappie – in part for the numbers of oversized specks that come to boat. “This lake has really taken hold, especially over the last three years,” adds Russ Bailey. “It is a great body of water, whether you like fishing shallow or deep water.”
Prime crappie habitat is spread out over long river miles, but much of the river feels like ”lake” fishing. Stallings calls the Jones Bluff Reservoir area stretching from Selma to Montgomery one of his favorites. Surveys indicate rapid growth rate on the river with fish reaching 12 to 13 inches in their first three years. According to some reports, two-pound crappie may be only four years old!
8. Neely Henry Lake, Alabama
Great crappie waters often have wonderful neighbors, and such is the case for Neely Henry, the 11,000-plus-acre impoundment located between Logan Martin and Weiss lakes in northeast Alabama. Neely Henry ranks an easy Top 5 rating from Ronnie Capps who credits relatively stable lake/river conditions, a balance of big black and white crappie populations for its outstanding productivity year after year. “The lake also gets plenty of natural cross fish during the spawn,” adds Capps, who claims hybrids are more aggressive and achieve faster growth rates. “I have taken a couple of three pounders here and actually saw a 4 pound, 12-ounce live hybrid crappie come from the lake.” Spider-riggers fare extremely well on Neely Henry, particularly when working the creek channels. Much of the reservoir fishes run-of-the-river style, so factor “current” into the game plan. The lake opens up near the dam. Outdoor Alabama magazine lists Neely Henry as “one of the best-kept fishing secrets in Alabama!” The cities of Gadsden and Ohatchee bookend the 77-mile lake. Good boat ramps and marinas are spread across the lake. They include three public access sites.
9. Truman Lake, Missouri
You will find only three of our Top 10 crappie lakes outside the state lines of Mississippi and Alabama. Missouri’s 55,600-acre Truman Lake edges into this elite list as much for its “classic crappie lake” looks and “everyman” appeal as for its fast action and consistent output of magnum crappie. “This lake has to be a top pick with its fence rows, hedge trees, stumps, tree tops and more,” says Kyle Schoenherr, “It’s a lake for guys who love to fish classic cover. Even guys who don’t understand electronics can rely on their eyes and still do well.” Ronnie Capps, too, loves Truman’s “fishable visible structure along with its strong population.”
While heavy cover is key to fishing much of the lake, you can fish deep structure as well. Fishing vertically with jigging spoons may enter the mix. It can produce fast action when crappie feast on suspended baitfish or gang up over deep structure near the dam.
For accommodations, boat rentals and local information, contact the Warsaw Area Chamber of Commerce (http://www.warsawmo.org) or Visit Benton County (http://www.visitbentoncomo.com) or Tebo Creek Lodge info@tebocreeklodge.com; 660-477-7777.
10. Logan Martin Lake, Alabama
Luck, they say, is where you find it. And crappie lovers find lots o’ luck along the nearly 50 mile length of this superb Coosa River impoundment! “This lake has so much cover variety that it is easy to have good luck here!” says crappie pro and TV host Russ Bailey. “I’ve made many trips to this lake and I have always caught great numbers and very healthy and big fish here.” Logan Martin tends to get more attention from recreational boaters than from crappie anglers, but it ain’t bad being on the crappie instead of the water skis!
Small 1- and 1.5-inch curlytail grubs on 1/32- to 1/16-ounce jigs are popular with the local crappie cognoscenti, but the 15,000-acre impoundment invites you to test all your talents and techniques. Be sure to put your electronics to work on the channels. Located about 30 miles east of Birmingham and straddling St. Clair and Talladega counties, crowds grow thick around Talladega race week. Vacation homes are plentiful for those with time to settle in and learn the lake, but you campsites and motel rooms should not be hard to find for short visits.
13. Enid Lake, MS
15. Lake Fork, TX
18. Harris Chain, FL
20. Kinkaid Lake, IL
23. Smithland Pool (Ohio River), IL
26. Lake Conway, AR
28. Lake Erie, OH
35. Lake Barkley, KY
36. Leech Lake, MN
37. Patoka Lake, IN
39. Sam Rayburn, TX
40. Lake Norfork, AR
41. John Kerr/Buggs Island, VA
43. Rend Lake, IL
50. Lake Greeson, AR
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CLASS NOTES
Crappie bed – Hickory or Oak – Brush in 17-20 feet of water,
top at 15-17 feet.
1/16 oz jig, 4 lb XL or XT Trilene – clear blue fluorescent
1/16 oz drops one foot every two seconds.
Blue gill…multi strike. Crappie…single strike
Wind is good: Wind-plankton-bait fish-crappie
2 inch curly tail grub – acid rain (Kalins)
Mid/late May - Hinged minnow – smoke
After spawn – Crank baits
Fish less aggressive in the sun and no wind
Fish more aggressive when windy
Fish 4-8 feet when murky/cool
Feb/March: Pre Spawn.
Water 45-50 degrees (Instructor says 47-56
degrees)
Fish in 6-12 feet water/shade/slips
Fish going to the windy side
Best eating fish
Mid April” Spawn
Water 56-65 degrees
Fish in four feet of water or less
13.2-14.6 hours of daylight
Females – Sun up and Sun down
Males – All day
Cloud cover is good
Summer: 22-25 feet, under lights
Fall: Fish get active at 65-70 degrees.
Dark water 4-8 feet
Clear water 6-12 feet
Winter: Drop down to 25-30 feet
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When spring arrives, it’s prime time for catching crappie at the Lake of the Ozarks.
By following crappie through their spawning cycle in the spring, you can
consistently catch these tasty fish at the Lake of the Ozarks from March through
May. One of the premier crappie anglers on the Lake of the Ozarks, Guy Winters,
Camdenton, MO, knows where to find and how to catch crappie during the two main
stages of the spawning cycle–the pre-spawn and the actual spawn).
The pre-spawn period begins when the surface temperature climbs to around 50 to
52 degrees and crappie move into depths of 8 to 10 feet. “How long they stay
there depends on how fast the water temperature jumps up,” says Winters. This
pre-spawn stage usually lasts until the water temperature rises to 61 or 62
degrees. This period usually runs from March through most of April. “A lot of
people think the spawn happens the first couple of weeks of April on this lake,
but it doesn’t,” Winters advises. “I’ve seen it in the first week of May
sometimes before they actually go to the bank to spawn. Any time anybody asks me
when they should come down to get in on the best fishing for spawning crappie on
the Lake of the Ozarks I tell them the first or second week of May. Of course,
there is some awfully good fishing before that but you have to work a little
harder.”
Winters targets cover near pea gravel banks, which are the ideal spawning spots
for Lake of the Ozarks crappie. “Crappie will identify with brush piles pretty
heavy that time of year,” Winters says. “They follow the creek channels or the
tributary stream channels pretty close.” If the weather has been cold in March,
Winters searches for banks with shale or chunk rocks which warm up faster on
sunny days.
Finding a good area to fish for crappie is based mainly on personal preference.
“I’ve got my favorite places but that’s just because I know where I’ve put a lot
of brush,” says Winters. The crappie expert mostly concentrates on the Big
Niangua close to his home, but he thinks the Little Niangua produces larger
crappie than the Big Niangua because it receives less fishing pressure. He also
believes the Grand Glaize has more legal-size fish because it also lacks fishing
pressure. “You can find crappie in any area of the lake as long as you know
where there is some good cover, it’s not too far from a creek channel or
tributary steam channel and it’s within a quarter mile of a good spawning bank,”
says Winters, who finds fish both in the coves and on the main lake then. “The
key is being close to that spawning bank.”
The best time of day for Winters during the pre-spawn is from 3 p.m. until dark.
“Light penetration in the water determines when is the best time to fish.
Crappie stay out a little deeper when the sun is up high because there is more
light penetration in the water and when the light penetration starts to diminish
a little bit, the fish come shallower and you don’t have to work as hard for
them.”
During the pre-spawn, Winters prefers Laker Paddlebugs (a cricket-shaped plastic
body) and Curlybugs (a cricket-shaped plastic body with a curly tail) because
these lures fall slower than the conventional plastic tube jigs.
“I like the Curlybug and Paddlebug extremely well that time of year simply because the fish hang pretty tight to the brush lots of times and you have to float your lure right over the top of the brush. I can use those baits a lot of times when other people use tube jigs or curly-tail grubs and have to put a float on them.” By keeping his rod tip at the 11 o’clock position, Winters can slowly glide the lure over the brush. He also likes to put a Laker StickGuard over the jig’s hook which allows him to crawl the lure through the brush without getting snagged. This technique is especially effective when barometric pressure falls and crappie burrow into the brush.
Most of the time, Winters hooks his plastic lures on a 1/32-ounce jighead, which
he casts with 6-pound test line. When fishing thicker brush that stands up in
the water, Winters sometimes switches to a 1/16-ounce jighead and 8-pound test
line. The only time he uses 4-pound test is when the fish are deeper than 15
feet.
A quick drop in barometric pressure causes Winters to present his lures
vertically to crappie in the brush, but in most situations he pitches his lures
to the cover and works them back. Stained water allows Winters to make short
pitches to his targets, but clear water requires longer casts to prevent
spooking fish.
During the spawn, water clarity also determines what depth crappie build their
nests. The clearer the water, the deeper the fish spawn. The fish seek some type
of shallow pea gravel bank, but the area still has deep-water structure nearby,
such as a creek or tributary channel. Winters says the female crappie hold along
this deeper structure until they are ready to move in to deposit their eggs.
When spawning in the shallows, crappie hang around any cover they can find. “A
lot of times I’ve seen just one little stick sticking up and that’s all that was
there,” Winters recalls. “I would cast there and not feel anything else but I
would still catch 10 or 12 fish around it.”
On a cloudy day, Winters can catch crappie all day long during the spawn. But on
bright sunny days he tries to avoid fishing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the
light penetration in the water is the greatest.
Lure selection is less critical during the spawn. “You can almost throw the
kitchen sink at them and catch them then if you move it at the right speed,”
says Winters. “Lure presentation becomes more important than anything else
during the spawn. A male fish guarding the nest is not an active feeding fish.
He’s defending a territory and if anything gets too close at too slow of a
speed, he considers it to be a threat and he’ll attack. If it’s moving too fast
he’ll ignore it.” Winters recommends keeping your lure 4 to 6 inches off the
bottom to keep the jig in the crappie’s strike zone. A jig-and-bobber rig
becomes more effective during the spawn because the bobber allows you to work
your jig slower through the nest and prevents the lure from falling to the
bottom. In dingy water, you can set the jig 4 to 6 inches below the bobber since
the fish will move as shallow as 1 1/2 feet.
Besides the Curlybugs and Paddlebugs, other effective lures during the spawn at
Lake of the Ozarks include plastic tube jigs, curly tail plastic grubs and
Roadrunners. Winters’ lure color selection is based on water clarity. In clear
water he favors the following combinations: red and pearl, blue and pearl or
yellow and pearl. For darker water, he prefers black and chartreuse, red and
chartreuse or chartreuse and silver glitter.
The spawn usually ends when the water temperature climbs to 70 degrees. The
latest Winters recalls catching any crappie spawning along the bank is the
beginning of the third week in May.
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Missouri Department of Conservation LakeExpo.com
Fall is a great time to fish on the Lake of the Ozarks, and the Missouri
Department of Conservation offers a few tips for anglers hoping to bring in a
mess of crappie.
Fall—try the docks
Crappie are generally very predictable and aggressive in October and November.
Docks are a prime location for fall crappie, where they can be caught in the
upper 10 feet of the water column.
Cast into the back of a boat slip or along the edges, letting the jig sink for 2
or 3 seconds, and then retrieve slowly. Crappie will also move into shallow
water on warm days in the fall, where you can catch them in the same brush piles
they inhabit during the spawn.
Winter—enjoy some of the best fishing of the year
Unfortunately, many anglers stow away the boat and fishing tackle before the
first snow flies. Those who don’t can experience some of the best fishing of the
year and have their favorite lake all to themselves.
You can find crappie in deep water (20 to 40 feet) in the winter, but they will
move into shallower water during a string of warm days. The key to catching
crappie in the winter is to use a very slow retrieve. In cold water, crappie
will not chase a fast-moving lure like they will during the warmer months.
In addition, winter crappie tend to congregate in large, dense schools near
structure instead of scattering in loose schools over a large area. Casts to one
side of a brush pile may yield nothing while the other side may produce a fish
on nearly every cast.
Tackle and technique
If you talk to a dozen crappie anglers, you will likely get a dozen different
opinions regarding the best way to catch them, the best jig color, the best line
to use, and so on. In reality, two anglers in the same boat can be using two
completely different techniques and baits, and they will both be catching fish.
The key is to not get stuck on any one approach. Experiment until you find a
technique that works for you.
Crappie are attracted to woody cover regardless of the time of year. A good rule
of thumb is to fish shallow during spring and fall, then fish deep during summer
and winter. However, a string of warm days in January can send fish into water
less than 5 feet deep, while a strong cold front in April can send them to the
depths for a few days. When trying to locate crappie, target brush piles or
other cover at a variety of depths, and let the fish tell you what depth they
prefer on a given day.
When crappie are active, they will hit a bait presented in close proximity to
cover. When they are not so active, you may need to get your bait down into the
brush to be successful. The two most effective ways to do this are vertical
jigging and casting. A weedless jig works best for these types of presentation.
Vertical jigging
To fish a bait vertically, simply drop it straight down into the brush until it
hits bottom. Then slowly reel up until you get a bite. Note the depth at which
you get a bite and concentrate on fishing at that depth. Another productive
method is to use a very small jigging spoon. Fish vertically over deep brush and
raise and lower your jigging spoon 1-2 feet. Crappie will often hit the spoon on
the fall while it is fluttering. This is a good technique to use when you run
out of minnows or simply get tired of re-baiting your hook.
Casting
When fishing shallow brush or in very clear water, you may need to back away
from the brush and cast. Toss your bait past the brush and let it sink to the
bottom on a tight line. Slowly retrieve until you contact the brush. When you
feel your bait come over a limb, let it sink again. Keep doing this until you
clear the brush. By doing this, your lure is actually penetrating down into
brush instead of just skimming along the outer edges.
Bobbers
These are not just for young or inexperienced anglers. There are days when
crappie will only pick up a jig or minnow that is hovering nearly motionless.
Again, you may need to experiment with the depth of your bait to find the fish.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
A Guide to Catching Crappie During the Spawn
When the spawn begins
As water temperature and daylight hours increase, crappie began their migration
to shallower waters to spawn. The magic number the water temperature needs to
reach is heavily debated, but most agree between 56-59 degrees will find white
crappie in the process of spawning.
On many lakes, black crappie will begin the final migration when the water
temperature hits 50-52 degrees, and will be done by the time the white crappie
arrive. The more days of consistently warm weather bringing the water temps up,
the smoother the transition will be for the crappie, and the better the fishing
will be for the anglers.
How crappie spawn
Male crappie fan the nests and essentially make the bed while the females stage
out from the nest. Depending on the lake and progression of the spawn, females
may be farther out and much deeper than the males, or within 6 feet and at the
same depth, but both sexes will be feeding aggressively up to the last stages of
the female moving in and dropping her eggs. Females are then in and out rather
briefly, and once they’ve dropped all of their eggs are very difficult to
pinpoint and catch.
Male crappie are emphatic guards of their up and coming fry, which is why the
spawn bite is the best “thump” most anglers feel all year. However it’s
important to remember that the males are not actively feeding after the females
have left, they are merely trying to run off any predator of the tender eggs.
While the initial bite is ferocious, male crappie are only trying to kill or
wound baitfish that pose a threat, and will “chomp” once or twice and then spit
the bait. They are genetically geared to feed heavily prior to the spawn to
prepare for the fasting that accompanies it. A quick hook-set is key, otherwise
your bait will be outside of the crappie’s mouth in a matter of seconds.
The role of the female crappie during the spawn is to do one thing and one thing
only: lay her eggs. Catching females with eggs pouring out of them is rare, but
if it does happen you are right in the heart of the spawn, and should find
aggressive males nearby. What exactly causes a female to deem it time to drop
her eggs is unclear on any given body of water, but what is clear is that it
usually happens in mass in particular areas, meaning if you do luck up upon one,
there are more nearby in similar surroundings. Most females caught while spawn
fishing are prespawn and loaded with eggs.
Where to look
Cover, cover and more cover - Before delving too far into this, a bit of clarity
with regards to terminology is in order. Most crappie anglers refer to a
brushpile, a stump, a stakebed, a dock or even vegetation as structure, because
after all, they are all by definition “structures”. However, in the wild world
of technical writing, structure refers to bottom contours like ledges, ditches,
and so on, and cover encompasses anything that provides concealment to a fish.
Crappie move shallow to spawn and do so on firm bottoms, which can range from
rocks to logs, but is usually performed on the lake floor surrounded by cover,
which is primarily for protection against predators and mother nature’s wrath.
Any shallow cover over a hard bottom is an excellent place to look for spawning
crappie. Hard objects give the crappie a place to hide and protect their nest.
So cover is always where you should look.
Keep track of previous spawns - Crappie are creatures of habit, and will return
to spawn in the same areas that yielded success in the past given similar water
levels.. It’s also important to note that an unsuccessful spawn will often
result in a change of habitat during the next year’s spawn. Water levels
dropping quickly during the spawn can wreak havoc on eggs, and crappie will in
turn find safer areas to make beds for the next year.
Water clarity’s affect - Water clarity, or more accurately light penetration,
dictates the depth crappie find comfortable at all times during the year, and
especially during the spawn. Muddy to heavily stained water keeps crappie
shallow, and during the spawn they can be in as little as 1 foot of water. As
the water clears, crappie move deeper, and in extremely clear water can spawn as
deep as 20 feet.
“Even on clear water lakes, there are feeder creeks that are murkier than the
rest of the lake, and those creeks and surrounding flats are the first places to
look for spawning crappie on clear water lakes,” said tournament pro and guide
Kyle Schoenherr.
What’s the best bait
Get loud - Loud in crappie lures during the spawn refers to color not sound.
Male crappie are generally the target when spawn fishing, and they are
protecting, not feeding. They are however aggressive, and will attack anything
that they deem a threat, so big, bright colors that are more visible will garner
more attention and strikes. A little rattle, however, never hurts in dirty
water.
Fast and slow - The predictability of crappie during the spawn is what draws so
many anglers to the water. Successful spawning grounds are not secrets among
fish, and when you find one angry male, there are likely many more in close
proximity. Fishing fast and covering a lot of ground is key when searching for
spawning fish, but once you find them, slow down and pick apart the area.
When to break out the minnows - There are times when male crappie will only
“nip” at predators and baits. This often results in short strikes and missed
fish, and downsizing your bait and/or tipping it with a live minnow will make
the most reluctant of crappie take a bigger bite and hold on a bit longer,
allowing for a proper hookset.
Which tactic to employ
Vertical jigging - When dealing with heavy cover such as brush, standing timber,
and thick vegetation, vertical jigging is the best method to effectively fish an
area. A long, light jig pole allows anglers to reach into, above, or around
cover and drop a bait right in the crappie’s home. Active males rarely require
much action from a bait, and even color can be a non-issue as long as the
crappie can see the bait. A moderately slow fall and bit of up and down jigging
will usually do the trick if the fish are there.
Casting to the shallows - Lakes with gravel or riprap banks will often hold
spawning fish extremely shallow and without much cover. Casting a jig to the
bank and dragging it back, staying just off or bouncing the bottom will trigger
strikes from these fish. Utilizing a float above the jig will allow you to
maintain exact control of lure depth, but an eagle-eye and lightning fast
reflexes, along with a stiff 6- or 7-foot rod is necessary to make quick, strong
hook-sets on fish that have no intention of eating the bait.
Spider-rigging deep cover - Although most crappie move into less than 4-foot of
water to spawn, there are still some that will stay out in 6 to 8-foot of water
and spawn on submerged logs or manmade cover. Logs especially are difficult to
one-pole fish without a mastery of your electronics. Pushing multiple poles
across logs is the most effective tactic to employ on deeper spawning crappie,
but this is not a time to get every pole in the boat out. Pushing 4 to 6 poles
is more than adequate, as again you will likely get many hard bites but few
second chances, so reducing the number of poles will improve your odds.
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Crappie by Degrees
Temperature Template For Year-Round Actioni!
Of all the factors determining crappiei location and activity, none is more
critical than water temperature. With that in mind, I assembled a panel of
veteran crappie guides including Jim Duckworth, Steve McCadams, Fred McClintock,
Larry McMullin, Tom Moody and Harold Morgan, and picked their brains about how
crappie locations and fishing patterns vary with changing water temperatures.
These experts pitched in to help me create this simple but useful cheat sheet
that spells out where crappies will be and what you need to do to catch them in
5-degree water temperature increments year-round.
Water Temperature: 35 Degrees
Overview: Crappies will be deep and sluggish now, but they’re still catchable
with the right presentation.
Key Location: Check main-lake river channels for crappies holding tight to
bottom cover in 30 to 60 feet of water.
Primary Patterni:
Vertical presentations rule in the dead of winter. Fish straight down, using
live minnows on a Kentucky rig (see diagram below) or spoons jigged just above
the fish.
Water Temperature: 40 Degrees
Overview: Crappies will begin migrating from deep river channels toward major
tributaries, where they will eventually spawn. They’ll often suspend in open
water now rather than relate to cover or breaklines.
Key Location: Waves of crappies will stage off points leading into reservoir
tributary arms, suspending off these structures 20 to 30 feet deep. Some fish
will remain on river channel structure in considerably deeper water.
Primary Pattern: Wind-drift 1⁄8- to 1⁄4-ounce jigs on longlines around tributary
points. Watch your graph for suspended baitfish schools—crappies are seldom far
from a food source.
Water Temperature: 45 Degrees
Overview: Many crappies have started migrating toward their eventual spawning
areas. It’s prime time.
Key Location: Target crappies hanging tight to submerged wood on deep channel
banks near the entrance to tributaries, 12 to 25 feet deep. Most fish will range
from the primary point to about a quarter of the way back into the creek arm.
Primary Pattern: Target-cast grubs to channel bends with wood. Cast, let the
grub sink until it contacts the cover, then immediately begin swimming it slowly
and steadily back to the boat.
Water Temperature: 50 Degrees
Overview: The prespawn migration is in full swing now, with large numbers of
crappies moving into reservoir tributary arms. Stragglers suspending in deep
water off tributary points will make their move shallower following a few days
of mild, sunny weather.
Key Location: Continue targeting the creek channel migration route, keying on
isolated wood cover along channel bends for the largest concentration of fish.
Crappies instinctively remain 12 to 20 feet deep now, probably to insulate
themselves from the impact of frontal passages.
Primary Pattern: Map out the creek channel with marker buoys, then bump a
Kentucky rig baited with minnows or a minnow/tube bait combination along the
channel drop.
Water Temperature: 55 Degrees
Overview: Expect the bite to get more aggressive as crappies begin feeling “the
urge to merge” and feed heavily before spawning.
Key Location: A few big fish will be in the upper half of tributary arms, but
you’ll find numbers of fish in the lower half, still relating to the creek
channel migration route. Shallow ditches veering off the creek channel and
running toward shallow spawning coves can hold huge fish.
Primary Pattern: Target ditches with grubs and small crank baits; on mild days,
crappies may be as shallow as one to three feet deep along these structures.
Work the creek channel with grubs, keying on brushy cover in the six- to 12-foot
zone.
Water Temperature: 60 Degrees
Overview: Crappies spawn in water from around 65 to 75 degrees, so the immediate
prespawn period is a good time to load the boat with oversize fish. Baitfishi
schools continue to be a primary location factor now as crappies fatten up
before spawning.
Key Location: Hopefully you did your homework while the lake was drawn down
during winter and marked the location of brushy cover and stake beds on your map
and GPS. Now that the water is higher, crappies will be all over this cover
midway into tributary arms, three to eight feet deep
Primary Pattern: Tightlining minnows and jigging tube baits around sunken cover
will score heavy crappie catches in murky water. In clear water, back off your
target, make a long cast and swim a curlytail grub.
Water Temperature: 65 Degrees
Overview: Crappies will be shallow now; some will be spawning, but many will
still be in a prespawn mode. Don’t rush the season—if you aren’t catching
quality fish on likely spawning cover, back off and target prespawn crappies
instead.
Key Location: Crappies will be in the upper half of tributary arms, holding
tight to isolated stake beds and submerged brush piles. Prespawn fish will be in
three to six feet of water, but will chase minnows shallower.
Primary Pattern: Tight-lining minnows on long rods is the standard method now,
but target-casting grubs and tubes to submerged wood works, too.
Water Temperature: 70 Degrees
Overview: Spawning season kicks in big-time! Male crappies fan out the nest
while females hang back waiting for the water temperature to rise a degree or
two before moving onto the beds.
Key Location: Spawning takes place on woody cover (stake beds, brush piles,
etc.) in the upper ends of brushy coves and creek arms, anywhere from three to
12 feet deep depending on the lake’s clarity.
Primary Pattern: Cast tubes and grubs or tight-line minnows close to cover. If
you’re catching numbers of small males, back off and hit deeper isolated stake
beds and stumps for the bigger females.
Water Temperature: 75 Degrees
Overview: Some crappies will be done spawning while others are finally moving
onto their beds. Postspawn fish will hang around bedding areas for several days
until the water temperature rises.
Key Location: Spawners will be on wood from three to 12 feet deep depending on
water clarity. Postspawn fish will be on isolated pieces of cover adjacent to
spawning sites.
Primary Pattern: Determine the crappies’ spawning mode. If tube baits or minnows
don’t produce strikes in thick brush and stake beds, target-cast grubs to
scattered wood.