So I've never fished for Crappie before, but after hearing some good Crappie reviews for a lake I'll be camping on (Bear Head Lake State Park) I'd like to give it a try. I think that I should fish a pole with a bobber and minnow, and maybe the other one with some small spinners, trout sized rapalas, and bettle spins? That sentance sums up my ideas, so I could really use some more specific information about technics and especially how to find the fish around May 20th. Thanks for any help.

BearDown, If there is an early ice-out and the temperature warms up you will be up there around prime crappie fishing time. When the water temp hits about 47-51 degrees the crappies start to move into the shallows. Between 52-60 degrees the females will start to spawn. Look for fallen trees along the shoreline in shallow bays. If you only catch smaller crappies up in the shallows you are catching the males. After the females spawn they will move to slightly deeper water. Try casting a flu-flu with a small crappie minnow or a small tinsel jig under a bobber. Try to get your bait get as close to the structure as possible.

Find structure. Most Crappies I catch are around submurged trees. I also catch a lot around bridge pillings where available. Jigging w. a small tube jig is always a good option. I like to use the Chartruse tubes w/ the lead weigh inside the tube on the hook. I also enjoy free lining minnows w. just a couple split shots and no bobber. I've had very good success w. that.

If you find them up shallow, you'll be in good shape. Here's a tried-and-true trick for shallow crappies: plain hook, no sinker, bobber about 3 feet up. Tail-hook the minnow and let it struggle to the top. Crappies love it! Watch ther minnow, not the bobber, that is just to help you cast.

Resorts in the Lake of the Ozarks area (I'm sure others do too) sink cedar tress with rocks tied on for anchors. This creates a "fishin hole" for crappie and you know right where it is. I'm not recommending this (cutting down a green live tree), but it does support the idea of structure that these experts are mentioning.

Two words...Flu Flu.

quote Dbldppr1250: "Resorts in the Lake of the Ozarks area (I'm sure others do too) sink cedar tress with rocks tied on for anchors. This creates a "fishin hole" for crappie and you know right where it is. I'm not recommending this (cutting down a green live tree), but it does support the idea of structure that these experts are mentioning."

It is very common to use Christmas trees for this.

The largest crappie I ever caught (17.25") was on a Northland Slurpie Panfish tube.

The most I have caught have been on a Gulp/Gulp Alive 2" minnow on a small jig head.

2 lures flu flus and Tube Jigs !

Here is a photo of a Bear Head Lake Crappie!

If they are shallow, you will catch a lot with a fly rod and a bead-head nymph.

Beardown - I have fished quite a bit for crappies and I will tell you that nothing will out-produce a slip bobber and minnow. Most people will tell you a crappie minnow, but I would go with a bass-size fathead if you want bigger ones. Another tip would be to fish the north side of a lake during that time of year as the water on the north side warms the fastest.