Crappies in Mid-Michigan

[Ruler]

I was meaning to post this later in the year, but saw another post on here about fishing crappie in mid-march, so here I go.

I live in a sub-burb of Bay City. (Yes, Bay City actually *does* have a sub-burb. ;) ) I've grown up fishing the Saginaw, Quanicasee, and Kawkawlin Rivers. I've fished cuts all over, the hot ponds (mostly before consumer's blocked it off), and the bay through the ice. Most of the fishing I've done has been for perch. I've managed to catch a handful of crappie over the past several years, but never more than 1 or 2 at a time. I was wondering if anybody know of a spot for crappie in my area.

I've read books on them and watched more videos than I care to think about, but can't seem to get them. When I go out fishing targeting crappie specifically, I usually end up getting perch, if anything. (Perch are probably my favorite eating fish, but I can get more and bigger ones when I just use a perch rig and still fish with minnows.) My father used to work with a dude who could go out during the perch run. Everybody up and down the shore was getting perch and he would be catching crappie. (He drank himself to death several years ago though. :mad: )

Does anybody have any advice? I understand if you don't want to give up your hot spots; I'd just like some general pointers and direction to the right area. (The few I have caught have come out of the Kawkawlin in the village. My father and I were canoeing around, tossing jigs around the rocks and stumps.)

[Sailor]

Hi Ruler,
Here are a few things (there are a great many ways to fish crappie)that will work most of the year:
First ask the bait shops in your area where the best inland lakes for crappie are. Pick a lake that drops off to about 12' near shore. Take two poles,one rigged with a slip bobber and jig and minnow. the other with one or two small tube jigs
(minnow,minnow head, or spikes optional). Paddle your canoe slowly around the lake just outside the drop off until you catch a decent crappie. Cast your slip bobber rig with a jig and lip or tail hooked minnow starting around 6' deep and experimenting with the depth. Meanwhile cast your tube jig(experimenting with colors). Fish for five or ten minutes(either anchored or drifting). If you aren't catching decent fish start trolling again until you catch another one and repete the process. If the water temp is warm put your fish on ice right away or you will have soft fish.
If you use hooks instead of jigs, try circle hooks and just start reeling slowly instead of setting the hook-works very well for crappie. Crappie(to us old farts they're "specks")fishing is another damn addiction.

[MGV]

Well here is the luck i have had. I troll for specs in deep holes. We use wax worms with colored jig heads. I have a minnkota with auto pilot. I set it as slow as i can. I start at 6-8 ft and go as deep as 35 ft. I try to keep up off the bottom at least a foot or more because of spec feeding up. Give it a try you never know.

[jnb]

Try Sanford Lake in the spring, during the spawn. I have not yet actually fished for them there but have friends who do. The "fills" on the west side of the lake seem to be the most popular spots, especially if you do not have a boat. Just drive up north along River Road and you will see the "fills" or arms of the lake. There is a bait shop on Saginaw Road (main drag in Sanford) that should be able to help you out.

[Ruler]

Thanks for the advice guys. Hopefully, I'll be able to pick some up this spring. :) Fun to catch and they taste good too! :D