When it comes to a good spring crappie bite id’ say now’s the time! While the bite is upon us here, I couldn’t help but make a couple trips this last week up to my uncles cabin in Burnett County Wisconsin; pleased to find out that if you head north a few hours, fishing is like it was here 2 weeks ago! While the bite wasn’t fast and furious quite a few crappies managed to find their way to the boat, and considering the weather being less than cooperative, the general size of fish was awesome!
The same general tactics that were applied back home worked quite well up north with only a few small modifications. The main thing I can say is… Shallow Shallow Shallow! All our fish were caught in no more than 3ft of water back in shallow bays, mainly due to the higher water temps. Water temps varied from 55 degree’s to just fluttering around 60 in the shallower water later in the day.
As far as tackle and bait is concerned, we kept it simple. When it was calm, slowly moving around with the electric, pitching bobbers with a treble hook/minnow combo about 1.5ft under the water and slowly retrieving back to the boat.
When it was windy, dragging bobbers put of 90% of the fish in the boat. Due to the very shallow water, dragging a jig by itself simply didn’t work as it was bumping bottom too often becoming fouled. By setting a small tube jig tipped with a crappie minnow about 2ft below a float and dragging that, we greatly reduced the amount of snags.
Without a doubt, this was some of the most consistent ‘large’ crappie fishing I’ve had in a while with the average fish right around 14oz – 1lb. Even more interesting is that 95% of the fish were males; I can only hope that some of those big females are to follow! If you haven’t gotten out this spring to chase down a couple slabs, it’s not too late! I know the bite here in Western Wisconsin is still going strong and I’d anticipate those fish to stay in the shallows for another week or two.
See ya out there!
Pete 
Couple More Pictures…
nice fish,looks like it was a blast
Great looking Crappies.
Jack
Beautiful fish boys!! Great work!!
Nice slabs
Nice crappies guys!
Very nice specks
I grew up in Burnett Co., just west of Siren. I guess the secret is now out! There is good fishing to be had.
Nice job, and great pictures!
Those are some nice slabs Pete. I’ll be up for the fish fry.
Steve
You sure have been on top of the nice slabs this spring.
Sully
Hope you will be smootching those big females and returning their genetics to the fishery…and for a re-run rush next year! For what it’s worth, heavy pressure that weakens the most dominant males in a nesting area during spawning might also be an issue–controversial perhaps– to consider as part of the serious angling skills you are already doing such a good job of developing. (Those big jacks can be a lot of fun elsewhere at other times in the season if you can work out their patterns) Or you can just put up with those tiring complaints that “there’s no good fishin’ around here anymore” Good Luck
Nice pics and report, Pete!
Those are some nice slabs Pete!!
Jami
Nice pies!!
Very Nice Crapps!!!