Spring Crappie Fishing

Until the temperatures warm up the lakes in Zone 16 (Lake Simcoe) and Zone 17 (major Lakes - Dalrymple, Head, Canal, Balsam, Sturgeon, Pigeon, Buckhorn, Stony, Crowe, Trent River, Rice, Scugog), I will settle for crappie and perch fishing in Zone 16 (Niagara Region) and Zone 19 (Lake Erie). That isn't so bad.

My panfish tackle consists of 4 rods and reels for boat and shore fishing. In the past, I had more rods and reels, but I wasn't getting maximum use out of each set up. I have simplified things by reducing the number of panfish rods and reels I have. Two rods are 6' 6" and are rated light power fast action. The rods are matched with ultra light reels spooled with 4 lb test fluorocarbon line. This set up is good enough to catch the smallest of panfish to smaller bass and pike caught by accident. I have another rod and reel set up the same as previously described except the rod is rated ultra light. The last rod is 5' 2" light power fast action. I like using this rod for what is called "shooting docks". This is used when you want to fish spots that are hard to cast to. It's sort of like firing a sling shot. You aim and shoot your lure to a position under the docks where the fish are located.

My usual choice of lure for fishing crappie at Rice Lake is a 1" micro tube. Most other anglers will use 1 1/2" tubes, but I prefer the 1" tubes because the crappie bite is light when the water is still cold in early spring or they're inactive. My choice of colour is red body with chartreuse tail. I will have the tube rigged with a 1/48 oz or other slightly heavier tube jig, which will make the small balsa float or a slip float stand vertically in the water. I clip on Redwing Tackle Blackbird BB split shot to the line if the float does not stand straight up in the water. I don't use live minnows any more, but they're good to use in cold water or if you're just starting to learn to fish.

Links to Crappie Fishing

http://tony.tonydong.com/fishing/crappie01.html

Halfway Haven Marina in Holland Landing is now known as Stella Maris Marina. Located at the end of Bathurst St, north of Queensville Sideroad. On south shore of West Holland River. Pay to ice fish or fish off docks. 1-905-836-5928.

http://www.thefishinguide.com/cooks.shtml

http://www.fishonlineca.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=59

http://www.crappie.com

http://www.crappieusa.com/Useful_Links.cfm

http://www.oxford.net/outdoors/Fishing/crappie.html

http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/if0611_Crappie/

http://www.kawarthasfishing.com/crappie.html

http://www.freearticles.co.za/recreation-and-leisure/sports/fishing/kawartha-lake-crappie-fishing-secrets.html

A Beginners Guide to Locating Crappie

http://www.article-buzz.com/Article/A-Beginners-Guide-to-Locating-Crappie/281088

How to Fish Crappie Structure for More Hookups

http://www.article-buzz.com/Article/How-to-Fish-Crappie-Structure-for-More-Hookups/280693