Would anyone be willing to share some secrets on crappie fishing early may(just before opener)? Never targeted panfish in the BWCA, but plan to this year until walleye is open. What type of lures, bait, and other fishing tactics do you use? How deep are crappies this time of year? What kind of structure do they like? Appreciate any advice as always!

I can't speak to BWCA crappie fishing because I've never targeted them nor have I ever caught one... Beyond that, night fishing (well after sunset) with a minnow/slip bobber setup has always worked wonders for me with crappie success.

Usually fish for some crappies around the same time as opener using a bobber & fluflu jig tipped with a crappie minnow (Not in the BWCA but usually the Ely area). Real shallow and pitch into down structure.

What I'm going to suggest works for ALL fish species wherever you fish and especially for newbies.
For kids:
push button or spinning reels
small diameter line - braid excels in pound test vs small diameter which allows good lure action and hook-sets at a distance.

Small lures catch everything - especially light ball head jigs and any number of soft plastics. Here are a few (and BTW, there is no such thing as targeting fish except via lure size):



Shallow water areas near potential spawn beds are the best places to start. Fan cast lures in all directions and retrieve slowly with pauses in 6' or less. Flats and emerging weeds are a good place to start. Sonar is a big help finding baitfish in the area. Where baitfish swim, predators are near.

senkosam: "What I'm going to suggest works for ALL fish species wherever you fish and especially for newbies.
For kids:
push button or spinning reels
small diameter line - braid excels in pound test vs small diameter which allows good lure action and hook-sets at a distance.


Small lures catch everything - especially light ball head jigs and any number of soft plastics. Here are a few (and BTW, there is no such thing as targeting fish except via lure size):



Shallow water areas near potential spawn beds are the best places to start. Fan cast lures in all directions and retrieve slowly with pauses in 6' or less. Flats and emerging weeds are a good place to start. Sonar is a big help finding baitfish in the area. Where baitfish swim, predators are near."

Good advice but I respectfully disagree with your stance on no such thing as targeting fish except via lure size.

DRob1992: "

senkosam: "What I'm going to suggest works for ALL fish species wherever you fish and especially for newbies.
For kids:
push button or spinning reels
small diameter line - braid excels in pound test vs small diameter which allows good lure action and hook-sets at a distance.



Small lures catch everything - especially light ball head jigs and any number of soft plastics. Here are a few (and BTW, there is no such thing as targeting fish except via lure size):





Shallow water areas near potential spawn beds are the best places to start. Fan cast lures in all directions and retrieve slowly with pauses in 6' or less. Flats and emerging weeds are a good place to start. Sonar is a big help finding baitfish in the area. Where baitfish swim, predators are near."

Good advice but I respectfully disagree with your stance on no such thing as targeting fish except via lure size."

Agreed, plenty of ways to target certain fish other than lure size.