Springtime Crappies

[Wade Jones]

Ice just left my pond in the last week, and I headed out for the first open water fishing of the season in central illinois. I caught over 30 bluegill and a couple bass with a small jig and waxy under a bobber set at 2-3 feet. I was fishing anywhere from 3-6 feet of water and couldn't find crappies. I know the crappies are there, I just couldn't find them.

 

Does anyone have some helpful tips for early spring crappies? jigs, live baits, depth?

[Josh Milczski (Omaha)]

After dark or before sunrise. I think it's generally assumed they're deep after the thaw, but there are plenty of exceptions to this rule. So depth you'll just have to experiment with.

[Landon Charles Carothers]

Try using a jig head with a squid rubber body let it sink 2-3 feet and roll it in slowly while jigging it up in down...

[Billy Fason]

I have my best luck with small minnows and around creek mouths....... usually still fairly deep if the ice just melted on your pond, may still be in deeper water.......

[John Sheehan]

How far where those fish from shore? 2-3 feet/,under the surface!That's amazing for Central Ilinois,I'm thinking! Water temp was?

[Wade Jones]

Don't know the water temp. for sure, maybe mid to upper 30's, but I'm not lying to you, these fish were on the bottom in three feet of water. I have never had this good of luck this early in the season.

[Magnolia Rick]

Right now they're spawning in the local ponds down here in south Texas
Was fishing Sunday at the pond near my sons house. We were using minnows as Josh was saying right at dust one after another cast after cast. We released them all back to the pond but had a blast.