Crappie Through the Seasons
Crappie school up and move with the seasons. Find the school and you can fill a bucket. Lose it and the bite goes quiet. Here's where they'll be each season.
Spring
As water warms into the 50s, crappie move toward shallow bays, brush and docks to spawn. Small jigs under a slip bobber, 2 to 6 feet deep, are hard to beat.
Summer
After the spawn they slide out to brush piles, standing timber and bridge pilings in 10 to 25 feet. Vertical-jig right over cover and count your jig down until you find the depth they're holding at.
Fall
Baitfish pull crappie back toward creek channels and the mouths of bays. They roam more, so a slow troll with small jigs or spider rigging helps you find them.
Winter
Crappie suspend over the deepest basins. Under the ice, watch your electronics and fish tiny jigs or minnows right at the level the fish show up.
Lakes to try
Lakes in the guide rated 4 or 5 for crappie: