I’m coming up to Redwing for the first time at the end of the month with a group primarily fishing walleye. I’d like to break off for crappie, maybe in some of the creek mouths. Look for some downed trees if it isn’t too early. Anyone care to help me at least know if I am not going to just waste time?
Thank you!
I’m with Tom….from my experience, the end of March is a touch early to find them consistently. There is a short window of action on Pepin as the ice comes off, but I tend to start seeing crappies consistently in the river in late April-early May. Mind you, I don’t go looking to find them…it’s more like them finding me at that time.
Oh yeah….and the whities! Gosh they’re fun! Find a current seam and have a blast.
Crappies can be common even during the winter months near the dam, especially behind wingdams that have deep pockets behind them. Like Jason said, find a current seam, but find one along a deeper pocket where the water is somewhat protected from hard current and you’ll find fish.
The wingies will be in high traffic areas, but the back channel will offer more tradional crappie water and cover. Down stream from Everts an the main channel you will soon be able to sneak into both Baypoint Harbor and the harbor at Colville [below the city of Red Wing]. Both of these locations can be hot for crappies.
Be sure to talk with Dean at Everts. He has some of the best area-specific crappie tackle on hand in colors that work best.. 
…something new to offer anglers this year.
Dean has a good idea of where some crappie holding wingdams are, just ask and he’ll help out with the wheres and whyfores.
Well, we found a pile of crappies yesterday! Again, wasn’t looking specifically for them, but they sure did provide a lot of fun and fast action.
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Well, we found a pile of crappies yesterday! Again, wasn’t looking specifically for them, but they sure did provide a lot of fun and fast action.
LOL…..I went out looking for some open water crappies this morning and found more smallies than crappies, including one 20 incher.
Would you care you give up some info on what they were hitting Jason? Sandy areas or rock?
LOL. I was going to ask the same thing but figured it was left on on purpose. I’m assuming weather really changes things daily this early. A load of crappies would keep me from trying something new… walleye fishing. Good to know they are our there somewhere.
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Would you care you give up some info on what they were hitting Jason? Sandy areas or rock?
Ringworms and blades primarily…even caught one on an F7 on a 3-way. Sand rock, deep and shallow.
Like I said, this area was flush with specks.
I’m hoping they’re still there on Saturday! 
Thanks Jason.
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