We will be up on Crooked Lake for Memorial Day weekend. We’ve had great success in the past with walleye, smallies and northerns... but in the 6 Years I’ve been going to the BWCA I have NEVER caught a crappie, not even by accident. Maybe better fisherman than myself could tell me why it’s not surprising I haven’t caught crappies, but it seems to me I should have stumbled upon one by now... we’ll anyway, we will be up there for 6 days and I thought it would be fun to target crappies at least once. Do you guys have any advise? Locations? Presentation? Anything would help... I don’t need to clean up, more just looking to cross the species off the list (and maybe treat myself to a crappie lunch).

Thanks!

Don’t take this wrong but I’m glad there is a low population of crappies up there. Walleye, Pike, Lake Trout, Smallmouth rule the lakes. I like to catch them but never up there. I’ve heard of others catching them up there. I’m sure someone here will tell you what Lake they are on.

I have found that black crappie relate to structure much more than white crappie. I have found white crappie seemingly out in the middle of nowhere but black crappie seem to frequent some type of tree, stump or weed.

When you say "stumble" on them implies you were fishing for walleye or bass. Heavy line of even 8lb and crappie is not a good combination. I like 4lb and small slow moving offering. A common pinky jig and a small fixed float should do the trick provided your line is light. 4lb can be fickle stuff and I strongly suggest the Gryp knot tied with a Tie fast tool which will insure 100% knot strength. Be sure to remove any paint from the eyelet of the jig as this increases the tie off diameter and decreases knot strength (mono like to join itself to like diameters), Use 6 loops on the tie fast with light line and wet the knot. You could use 6lb fluorocarbon and still the Gryp knot. However your jig will sink slightly faster due to the denser material of the FC. Would it matter? Maybe, maybe knot.

Do not underestimate how skittish crappie can be. Stealth and long casts are your friend. I also like early, early, early as crappie can be a bit light shy. May should find them rather shallow however. A single tree in the water or stump may hold 5 or 6. Same with a patch of weeds.

MasterT,

You are exactly right about what I meant by "stumble". I am sure the lure type, presentation, and gear I use to trick walleye/smallies/northerns into biting my hook just doesn't work for crappie. I am not all that great of a fisherman, but I just assumed that with all the vertical jigging I've done I would have convinced a couple crappie into taking a bite, but obviously that hasn't been the case.

I may bring up a bit of 4lb test and a couple small jig heads to see if I can get a few to bite. I've also never caught a sunfish while up there, maybe with the smaller presentation I could score a few of those as well.

thanks for the feedback

I haven't caught any in May, but have in June

mr.barley: "I haven't caught any in May, but have in June "

Nice looking slabs! Thanks for sharing!

mr.barley: "I haven't caught any in May, but have in June "

Why talk to me KP when you can talk directly to "The Man" Mr Barley!! I have never caught a crappie in canoe country but I have never fished for them up there either and was just relating past experiences when I have targeted them in lower Michigan. Maybe Mr Barley would be so kind as to share his experiences and point us in the right direction? Perhaps my advice misses the mark??

MT is right about using appropriately sized line and tackle and I would like to add that finding the right "fundamental location" as apposed to specific location might be valuable. Warm water is what you are looking for!

For example, this sunfish was caught in mid-late may while looking for crappies.


The area was full of panfish perhaps partly or entirely because of the water temperature. Also the sunfish were relating to sparse but thick-stocked mid-lake reed beds that had not come in yet.

Shown here is back bay of basswood



To keep this short i'll just say, the water can warm up for a number of reasons in back bay and that draws in the fish, especially the pan fish. Apply this logic on any lake (with distinct bays) in May and you might find a mess of fish.


Bonus crappie from ottertail county

Tasty

overthehill: " Tasty


"

I grew up eating crappies in Michigan and always considered them a good eating fish. But then I moved to Florida and have found that crappie here are not very good at all........terrible actually. Sort of like eating a mushy ball of cotton. Which is a bit of a shame since the crappie fishing here is quite good.

I don't know if it is a water temp thing or a forage base which lends them to being mushy texture wise and bland but thats the deal. Tsk, tsk, too bad.

I've caught them near Hoist Bay on Basswood. Not in May but in Sept. 1/8 oz. pink and white jig tipped with a minnow. Found a hump in the bay by accident, thought they were walleye. The hump was about 15 fow surrounded by 20 fow. Funny how structure changes
attract fish.

In bays and around weeds with a road runner Is always a good way to find them

Basspro69: " In bays and around weeds with a road runner Is always a good way to find them"

Basspro is a big dude so those are some nice crappies.