Crappies Anyone?

Spring time crappies are really a treat. The way to fish crappies will be relevant to what kind of lake you are going to be fishing. Lakes, sloughs, and reservoirs will all have fish that relate to different structure and different depths throughout the year.  Many of the lakes I fish will have a smaller bay, typically with some sort of water flowing in/out of it. The shallow bays allow for warmer water temperatures, which crappies crave to help being the spawning stages.
 
Crappies, when sitting on beds, will be anywhere from 2 to 4 feet of water. They are fun to fish during the spawn and are aggressive do to protecting their beds and nests. Crappies on their beds are very vulnerable species. To succesfully sight fish crapipes on their beds, a nearly windless day is needed. (Note this in the picture below) This is key to sight fishing crappies/gills in shallow waters.  It’s a little early yet to target crappies shallow on their beds, in my opinion. However lakes are all different and part of the spring time crappie fishing is exploring! Once the water warms up and is consistent at 55 or so, the shallow water bite will be on. The bluegills will be close behind. I would concentrate now, depending on the body of water, by throwing slip bobbers with crappie minnows. I am also a fan of just a plain hook tipped with a minnow underneath a float. I usually fan cast a shallow water area, making sure not to make noise from the boat motor, and try to locate some feeding fish. Run an electric to remain as quiet as possible. Startling a shallow school of crappies can run many hours of fishing. Right now I would try anywhere from 3 to 8 feet of water and suspending your minnow about  1-2 feet of the bottom. If the fish aren’t in an area go ahead and move to another part of the shallow bay. Another fun way to fish crappies, once you find them will be to throw out tube jigs, or a jig with a twister tail. Cast and retrieving is fun. It’s always a blast when a fish hits when you’re cranking in your lure.

There are many things to keep in mind from running water, water temperate and what the fish are feeding on. With some more steady temperatures this week and into next week, the crappies should be pretty easy to target and catch. The big crappie bite will be later this year than last year, but that time will be here shortly, and I can hardly wait. Good luck on the water.

Big J