It seems to me that crappie is a fish that you have to really get to know an area before you do well catching them. (I do loops in new places every trip, so I stick to easier fish that are plentiful - smallmouth, walleye, lakers in the early spring, obviously northern, and an occasional brook trout lake, which is honestly my favorite.) What are your tips for getting even a little bit successful with crappie? Baits, how to target them on a lake, etc. I appreciate the help!

First thing is find a lake that has crappies in it. I know Bald Eagle does, but that’s about all I know. After that standard crappie fishing techniques should work I’d say. On a trip a kid with us caught a couple nice ones off shore on BE just goofing around casting lures. Don’t target crappie in the BW because I can catch those at home, walleyes SM & pike not so much.

Best thing to do is look at the lake finder site and see what lakes hold them. Not many of them do so that's the fastest way to narrow the search.

I think it's more luck than anything because of how they school. We slayed them on Nina Moose, got into some real nice slabs.

SummerSkin: "I think it's more luck than anything because of how they school. We slayed them on Nina Moose, got into some real nice slabs."

I don't think there are crappie in Nina Moose. You sure those weren't Rock Bass?

I don’t ever target them in the BWCA but my buddy caught a 14” on Gabbro on a leech under a slip bobber. Only one we caught all trip and the biggest crappie I’ve seen in person.

Good luck!

Speckled: "

SummerSkin: "I think it's more luck than anything because of how they school. We slayed them on Nina Moose, got into some real nice slabs."

I don't think there are crappie in Nina Moose. You sure those weren't Rock Bass?"

Agnes most definitely has crappies so it would be not unexpected to also find them in Nina Moose. DNR lake finder does not have them listed though.

We caught them on Basswood using a jig with a minnow.

naturboy12: "

Speckled: "

SummerSkin: "I think it's more luck than anything because of how they school. We slayed them on Nina Moose, got into some real nice slabs."

I don't think there are crappie in Nina Moose. You sure those weren't Rock Bass?"

Agnes most definitely has crappies so it would be not unexpected to also find them in Nina Moose. DNR lake finder does not have them listed though. "

Yeah if Agnes has confirmed Crappie listed by the DNR, safe to presume Nina Moose as well. I mean, weren’t those two lakes combined last Spring?

They are in the Kawishiwi river system. Usually just bottom bouncing jigs with minnows for walleye and would stumble upon some crappies as well.

I'd say to first find a lake that has crappies. Then, go at a time when their location is somewhat predictable. So, if you can do that shallow spring bite, I think that would be cool, though I've never done it up there. Midwinter over the deepest water in the lake is also predictable, as is midsummer to a lesser degree.

The number of lakes with crappies has increased 10-fold in the BWCA area in the last 35 years. Lakes with lake surveys before 1990 may not show them and they have them now.
Like smallmouth bass,crappies are expanding with the longer ice-free conditions now present,

I really don't believe in saying where good fishing spots are in the BWCA. But Basswood
lake where few if any crappies existed 50 years ago has a crappie population that will rival many in the state of Minnesota. The population has exploded to very high numbers and size. Will it now decline in the future?

Basswood has some Slabs. Finding them is another fun thing to accomplish.
It is alway's fun to find them. When you do, it is a Blast.

Speckled: "

SummerSkin: "I think it's more luck than anything because of how they school. We slayed them on Nina Moose, got into some real nice slabs."

I don't think there are crappie in Nina Moose. You sure those weren't Rock Bass?"

100% sure.

naturboy12: "

Speckled: "

SummerSkin: "I think it's more luck than anything because of how they school. We slayed them on Nina Moose, got into some real nice slabs."

I don't think there are crappie in Nina Moose. You sure those weren't Rock Bass?"

Agnes most definitely has crappies so it would be not unexpected to also find them in Nina Moose. DNR lake finder does not have them listed though. "

Rivers flow from NM to Agnes. So yes linked but....could still be in one and not the other in this case. Now if Agnes was above NM, then yes you'd have to say they're in there.

As always keep the smaller ones or practice catch and release :)

June 2022. Caught using small swimbaits. Have caught them in multiple different regions of the BWCA over the years. Most of the crappies I've caught have typically been in 10-15' holes, near ledges, especially in windblown areas, etc. Have caught them trolling tail dancers, vertical jigging, casting small swimbaits, or jigs with twirltails or Bobby Garland baby shads. Basically anything that'll mimic a bait fish would probably work fine. From my experiences, most crappies prefer slower retrieves/presentations, so don't work your baits too erratically.

I feel like most people happen upon crappies by mistake while fishing for other species. That being said, early season when they're shallow spawning would be the easiest way to get into them, think shallow bays. We brought minnows for walleye, but had much better luck with crappies after dark under a slip bobber from camp. I used a 1/16th oz jig with a minnow under a lighted bobber. Once the water warms up crappies disperse and will often suspend in deeper water, meaning you'll want a fish finder, and want to use search baits. Small mister twisters, thumper jigs, and rapalas will all do the trick.

Cheers!

As has been mentioned, anywhere along the Kawishiwi River system from Lake One to Gabbro.
I find them in suspended schools in October using electronics, but they will also hug bottom in these 25ft deep areas at times.
If I can stay on top of a school, Power Minnow and jig usually does the trick.
Did catch one trolling a 20ft deep Taildancer this past fall searching for walleyes.
Sometimes some big sunnies will be mixed in with a school, when you are fighting what you think might be a 16" crappie that turns out to be a 10" sunny, you don't really complain.

tvyang: "June 2022. Caught using small swimbaits. Have caught them in multiple different regions of the BWCA over the years. Most of the crappies I've caught have typically been in 10-15' holes, near ledges, especially in windblown areas, etc. Have caught them trolling tail dancers, vertical jigging, casting small swimbaits, or jigs with twirltails or Bobby Garland baby shads. Basically anything that'll mimic a bait fish would probably work fine. From my experiences, most crappies prefer slower retrieves/presentations, so don't work your baits too erratically.


"

Love the color of that crappie

There are also some nice crappie lakes just outside the BWCA (no permits needed with a few campsites), shoot me an email if you are interested.

I have caught multiple 15 and 16 inch crappie in the BWCA. In the river mouth coming into Agnes from the south, also in the river coming into Bald Eagle from the South. Also caught them between Gabbro and Bale Eagle. I typically catch the first one on an 1/8 oz jig while walleye fishing. A 16 in crappie can easily eat a jig that size.

I have also has good luck with bluegill in several lakes.

Speckled: "

SummerSkin: "I think it's more luck than anything because of how they school. We slayed them on Nina Moose, got into some real nice slabs."

I don't think there are crappie in Nina Moose. You sure those weren't Rock Bass?"

I didn't think there was fish in Nina Moose

Captn Tony: "We caught them on Basswood using a jig with a minnow."

I've also caught them in Hoist Bay on Basswood.
Many years ago on a day trip

OMGitsKa: "They are in the Kawishiwi river system. Usually just bottom bouncing jigs with minnows for walleye and would stumble upon some crappies as well.


Yes, we caught them on the Kawishiwi as well, very nice crappies.

Speckled: "

SummerSkin: "I think it's more luck than anything because of how they school. We slayed them on Nina Moose, got into some real nice slabs."

I don't think there are crappie in Nina Moose. You sure those weren't Rock Bass?"

We caught a very nice Crappie on Nina Moose last year. Catch them all the time in my pond at home. Oh, it was a Black Crappie.

Caught several on Bald Eagle near the north end of the lake. Also caught a number on Hoist Bay. Both were in late May. I know we have caught others at several places, but those were just one off random. Photo is on Hoist Bay (you can see the big log that sticks out near the steam engine in the photo). Yes, that Crappie was a slab as long as my son's forearm. (caught and released).

Why would anyone make a trip to the Boundary Waters and spend time fishing for crappies when you are in premiere walleye and lake trout waters? Hone your fishing skills to the prominent species in the BW and leave the crappie-fishing for home. It will take some time, but as your skills improve, so will your enjoyment.

Anyway, we caught a couple incidental crappies in North Bay on Basswood.

bobbernumber3: "Why would anyone make a trip to the Boundary Waters and spend time fishing for crappies when you are in premiere walleye and lake trout waters?"

Same reason you caught 'em. We weren't targeting them specifically, it was just incidental.

I would just as soon fish crappie than walleye. But give me lake trout and smallmouth first.

bobbernumber3: "Why would anyone make a trip to the Boundary Waters and spend time fishing for crappies when you are in premiere walleye and lake trout waters? Hone your fishing skills to the prominent species in the BW and leave the crappie-fishing for home. It will take some time, but as your skills improve, so will your enjoyment.


Anyway, we caught a couple incidental crappies in North Bay on Basswood.
"

Because for me catching 14 inch crappie is just as fun as catching 18 inch walleye !!