Shorebound Spring Crappies

By Freddie McKnight

May and early June is typically the timeframe when both black and white crappies come to the shallows. They do this in order to spawn amid the shallow shoreline structure, presenting an opportunity like no other for the shorebound angler to get in on some of the finest fishing action of the year.
Armed with a bucket of minnows, and knowledge of some local crappie hotspots, we often find ourselves with fishing rods in hand after a morning of chasing gobblers in May. Not only does this allow us to be outdoors at a great time of the year, but also the fillets from this much sought-after panfish are among the finest eating of any freshwater species. It is probably why they have such a large following each spring.
What do you look for when it comes to catching shoreline crappies? The first thing I look for is shoreline structure. Typically, you are fishing lakes for these fish, which means blown-down trees in the water are prime targets for this species. If the lake you key in on is a manmade impoundment, chances are that there are areas of shoreline stumps that will serve as an attraction to these fish. Many times you will be able to spot them in the clearer water lakes with the aid of polarized glasses.
In addition to the shoreline structure, another critical element that plays into making a great location is immediate access to deeper water. If the main creek channel runs next to a shallow bank, you have the best situation you could ask for. Other areas can and will produce crappies, but when you are looking for areas with a large concentration, you need such conditions. When you are stuck to fishing from the shoreline, you don't want to be lugging around your gear and catch from one spot to another, then have to take all of that on a long walk back to a vehicle parked far away. You want to be able to catch these fish in one small area so that you can cut down on the walking.
One key area that I like to look for on public lakes when fishing for crappies is a fishing pier. Piers are quite popular, so you may have to get there early. These manmade fishing spots usually entail some type of structure nearby, making them ideal places for crappies to key in on. Typical manmade structures, such as pyramid cribs or five-gallon buckets with slab wood cemented into them, are placed in several locations near these piers in an effort to attract fish. The best locations are going to be the ones closest to the deeper water, but all will provide some sort of action throughout the course of a day. Remember that when you catch and keep a fish from one location, others are probably going to filter in to take its place. Alternating from one location to the next can keep your fishing area fresh and allow you to present your baits or lure to fish that have yet to see them.
During the winter months, numerous windstorms have moved through this region and, I assure you, many new trees have ended up in the drink. Many will be laying partially in the water, with their base still on dry land. These provide a methodical way to approach active fish, but be forewarned that much caution should be used when doing so.
Active fish tend to be the ones holding on the outer edges of the structure. In the spring, when the fish are in to spawn, not all of the fish will be engaged in the act at the same time. It is nature's way of ensuring that at least some of the species will be able to reproduce. If they all spawned at the same time, and some sort of disaster struck, that would mean an entire year's worth of the species would simply not exist, while many of the adult fish would have been taken out of the equation by anglers. With this little biology lesson in mind, should your efforts along the immediate shoreline not be getting results, it may be time to literally ease out on a limb to try and reach other crappies that are in some form of staging.
Using a long pole, anglers can reach the outer edges of the brush to search out active fish. Each angler has his or her own style of doing this. Some may use a bobber to control depth, while others will just use the rod held high or low to present the bait at a certain depth. Probe the entire canopy of the tree you can reach, but keep your movements as subtle as possible. Remember you are literally standing on the structure they are holding on, and any movements on your part are going to be felt in the water. Too much movement will send the fish scurrying for safer parts.
Though wood is the primary target of anglers searching for crappies, other types of structure will also attract them. During the early part of spring, typically early in May, the fish will seek out areas of gravel. They do this in an effort to feed and bulk up prior to the stressful period of the spawn. Search out shorelines that contain such material, preferably ones soaked in the sunshine, and you have found the potential hotspot. You may need to visit many such sites before you find the right one, as it seems the fish tend to move around from one to another quite frequently in their search for food.
Crappies will also key in on weedbeds. With the new greenery of this aquatic growth springing up at just about the same time as the fish tend to come shallow, it only makes sense that these fish will be found around them. The ends of flats, adjacent to deep water, are a primary location to find a school of crappies at any time of the spring. Many times this type of attraction is within easy casting distance of the shorebound angler, and it may give you an opportunity at unmolested fish that other anglers are overlooking. Fishing a minnow or small jig on a bobber, just off of the bottom, is an ideal offering these fish will take. Remember that these fish may be traveling at this time of year, so you may get spurts when you catch numerous fish, followed by a period of inactivity. Search around with your casts, using as many rods as your fishing laws will allow. This will keep you tuned-in to the movement of the school.
Consistently catching crappies from the shore is never a sure thing, but when you add up all the factors and play your best bets, you can have just as good a day as any angler pursuing this species from a boat. Take notes of your experiences this season so that you can apply what you have learned in future years. Over time, a pattern will form and you can have the consistent action you desire on a yearly basis.