| ing on the season of the year that you intend to | | | | up just above the surface of the waters. Here, |
| go fishing, you'll want to use different tactics to | | | | the water may only be four or five feet deep, |
| draw the crappie to your line. Lures, areas of the | | | | and you should watch the bottom of your boat. |
| lake to expect to find the crappie, and depths at | | | | One way to get the best access is to fish from |
| which these specimens will be found vary by | | | | the banks or piers if they are available. However, |
| season. One of the best times to find large slabs | | | | this is not the only place to find large specimens. |
| is the spring. Spring crappie fishing is usually fruitful, | | | | As the waters warm, you'll find that spring |
| with two pound slabs or greater available in many | | | | crappie fishing results in a shift to the deeper |
| parts of the country. How can you assure that | | | | waters, where the temperature is more |
| spring crappie fishing will produce the best possible | | | | consistent. You might even have to head out to |
| catch for you? | | | | the center of the lakes, looking for depths of |
| Spring crappie fishing typically begins before the | | | | about twenty feet with schools of crappie hanging |
| official start of spring, as crappie begin their | | | | out around twelve to fifteen feet. |
| pre-spawning in early March. Finding crappie | | | | Using 1/16-ounce hair jigs dropped to just above |
| becomes much easier as the waters warm and | | | | the top of the cover will produce excellent results |
| crappie prepare for their spawning season in the | | | | in water that is just a little deeper than the |
| shallows of the lakes and rivers. In fact, you'll find | | | | brushpiles along the banks, especially in mid to late |
| some of the fattest, heaviest, and longest fish in | | | | March or even early April. Note that weather |
| the early and middle parts of March. These are | | | | affects the actions of the crappie as well. Spring |
| the females who have literally been languid at the | | | | crappie fishing can produce results as shallow as |
| bottom of the lake, barely moving and only eating | | | | four to five feet below the surface on a warm |
| when absolutely necessary and simply storing | | | | day with calm waters, while schools of crappie |
| energy for the spawning season. | | | | may be driven as deep as the bottom of a lake |
| In the spring, you should be searching the | | | | twenty feet or more on a stormy day with lots |
| shallows, especially in the brushy areas. Spring | | | | of cloud cover and cold winds. Check the clarity |
| crappie fishing finds the biggest slabs resting | | | | of the water before choosing your jig the color |
| beneath heavy cover, especially that which sticks | | | | you use will depend upon it. |