Spring crappie flyfishing

Wanted to get into fly fishing for crappies this spring anyone have any pointers on which flies, weight of fly rod, and maybe some locations.Maybe just something I overlooked like using an adjust a bubble or water temps ect.Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks SS

I love using my 4 weight, but if there’s some wind, it stays in the truck and the 6 weight comes out.

Six is a good all around weight for fishing the lakes and it works well for stream trout to. I chose a Double Taper because I can turn it around after it’s warn and because it’s easy to roll cast with when there’s trees ect behind me.

Location is more important than flys. Look to the North sides of lakes, more so if they have bays or other shallow water areas. Any place that has just been dredged is a gold mine for pan fish. I’ve found them a few times in 50 degree water but more often above 55.

Most any fly will work as they are very aggressive in spring. I’ll tie my favorite a yellow woolly worm (size 12) on and then attach some leader to it’s eye and run it back about 12 inches and attach a weighted timberwolf. This will sink if I let it and get me a little deeper if need be.

Sure miss fly fishing for pannies in the spring. Just can’t do everything!

Hope that helps some…and be sure to let us know how you do!

Good points Brian, and I’ll second the use of a 6 weight. Wind can be a bigger issue on a lake than on a small stream, it’s nice to have a little extra “horse power” to get that fly out there.

Flies….Think about the small jigs that work so well for Spring Crappies and then find flies that are the same size , shape, and color. Like Brian said you can’t go wrong with a yellow Woolly Bugger. Black can also be good, and I tie white ones with some pink near the head that have worked very well for me.

Since the fish are shallow don’t worry about sink tip lines or full sinking lines. A floating line works fine, just give the fly time to sink. Count it down and don’t work it really fast since the water is cold anyway.

If you have any questions or need help getting set up shoot me a PM, be glad to help a fellow fly fisherman!

Rootski

Trim grim or wildcat style poppers will get you crappie. I use a panfish assassin on a size 8 baitholder hook in and around wood. Caught a few on beadheaded things but not like the poppers. Be prepared for smallie like strikes. I use a 3wt and a 2wt.