| It has been a long hard winter and one of the most | | | | be drawn in there like magnets. Fallen trees, sticks |
| anticipated events in the spring is wetting a line on | | | | brush and last years weeds will attract more insects |
| open water. While ice fishing is fun and productive, | | | | that are hatching that the crappies will feed upon. |
| there is nothing like being out in the boat after taking | | | | This combination will become your "A" fishing spot. |
| a few months off. What really adds to the open | | | | The water temp that typically starts this early |
| water fishing experience is the thrill of catching slab | | | | season action is about 50 degrees. There are many |
| crappies. | | | | fishermen who incorrectly think the crappies at this |
| There are many fishermen who wait in the spring for | | | | time are coming in to spawn. They are simply coming |
| the crappies to move in to spawn. Don't get me | | | | in to feed at this time. Crappies will move in to |
| wrong; if you find crappies on their spawning beds, | | | | spawn a little later in the spring when the water |
| the fishing can be fantastic! But why wait to the | | | | temperature is about 65 degrees. |
| spawn when you can have your cake and eat it too. | | | | There are many fishermen that will use a jig and |
| Crappie fishing right after ice out can be equally | | | | minnow. They will catch fish, but if you really want |
| rewarding. | | | | the fast action switch your presentation to a tube jig. |
| The water temperature right after ice out will be | | | | The best depths typically here are about 6 feet or |
| very frigid. After a few bright warm sunny days the | | | | less. When you rig you tube jig, place a small bobber |
| lakes ecosystem will start to come alive. Many | | | | a foot and a half up from the jig. Cast and retrieve it |
| crappies in the early spring will be found deep. These | | | | slow. The bobber basically simply keeps your jig at |
| deep water spots typically will be the last spots the | | | | the same depth. In detecting the bite, crappies will |
| ice fisherman were having success. By using light jigs | | | | often grab your jig and swim side to side or the |
| and minnows in these deep-water spots, chances are | | | | bobber will tip up and then move slowly down. The |
| you will have good success. But if you are really | | | | tube jig body is plastic so give the crappie a little time |
| looking for fast action think shallow water. | | | | to suck it down. The best thing about the tube jig is |
| As the water starts warming up, the insects will start | | | | that if you miss you will often get another bite right |
| hatching and small baitfish will move closer to shore. | | | | away. When using minnows for bait, you miss your |
| When that happens the crappies will move in right | | | | done. |
| behind the food to feed. The best thing about early | | | | Once the crappies move in, the action can get very |
| season crappie fishing is that the best times of the | | | | fast. This spring crappie pattern usually lasts a few |
| day to be out is during the peak of late afternoon | | | | weeks. After that the crappies move slightly deeper |
| and early evening when the weather is the nicest. | | | | staging for the spawn and then move back in. So |
| Every lake is different, but the best early season | | | | why wait for the crappies to spawn? You waited all |
| lakes are the more shallow and muddy bottom lakes | | | | winter. Early spring crappie fishing is a real bonus. |
| because they tend to warm up quicker. | | | | Have Fun! |
| If the lake has a small bay or channel the crappies will | | | | |