Best crappie lakes in texas

We have been asked by numerous anglers where the best places to crappie fish are, so we collected information from a panel of experts to build a bucket list of the best crappie fishing lakes and rivers in the U. We provided input to the list as well but we wanted this to a be a verified and accurate list so we asked some of the most accomplished crappie anglers where the best fishing is around the country. These anglers have fished, guided and competed all over the country for crappie and worked to provide a thoroughly-vetted crappie fishing bucket list for you. The criteria for the list was good numbers, best crappie lakes in texas, good size, a combination of both, scenery, experience, accessibility and opportunities best crappie lakes in texas fish multiple techniques.

Mississippi power troller Les Smith holds a summer crappie taken on a large Pro Series Crappie Magnet, a spinner head jig. His choices for best lakes include Arkabutla, Grenada and Sardis in that order , all in our top 12 list. Photo: Tim Huffman. Ask ten people their favorite candy bar and you are likely to get ten different answers. It is the same with best fishing waters. Waters are ranked based upon which experts are asked and other factors used to judge good fishing waters.

Best crappie lakes in texas

Although bass may get most of the attention, crappie fishing in Texas is a big deal. Highly prized not for savage strikes, dramatic leaps, or ability to make a drag scream but because when you catch one, you may be on a pile of them. And frankly, except for perhaps walleye or yellow perch, it would be difficult to top crappie fillets. There are so many from which to choose, I suggest starting your investigation of where to fish Texas by visiting the Texas parks and wildlife department. This is a BIG state, and you will want to spend most of your time on the water, rather than on the road. Within each region exists recent Texas crappie fishing reports. The best crappie fishing in Texas not only varies by year, but from week to week as various influencing factors come into play such as forage availability, spawning success, and water level. For example at time of writing, Lake Conroe was good in the Pineywoods region and Lake Stamford in the Panhandle Plains region, but in a couple of weeks, Sam Rayburn or Possum Kingdom may become hotter crappie destinations in their respective regions. Tips for crappie fishing always include locating structure such as docks or standing or fallen timber and crappie fishing in Texas is no different. Crappie can be caught on lures such as small crankbaits, spoons, and spinnerbaits, but small jigs or small minnows with light line and long limber rods usually have a higher success rate. Spawn occurs when water exceeds 60 degrees, which is usually sometime between March and May. This concentrates a fish that already is gregarious so this may be the best time to fish for crappie in Texas. When you are getting your Texas fishing license , be sure to check the regulations.

Several on our panel had this as their favorite crappie destination. Live minnows and small jigs are the baits of choice for most crappie anglers, but small spinners, crankbaits and jerkbaits can be effective too. Boat types.

Mary Claire Patton, Digital Journalist. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff recently compiled a list of 12 places that it considers some of the best hot spots for crappie fishing in the state. We hope anglers take advantage of all the excellent fisheries that the state has to offer," Zee said. Local News. Recommended Videos. Daniel Reservoir near Abilene.

Few states offer a greater wealth of bass fishing options than Texas. Some of the best bass lakes in America are right here. Texas is a state where, as the saying goes, everything is bigger. And a handful of waters in the central part of the state are home to Guadalupe bass, a species of black bass that can be caught nowhere else on earth. The following are the 21 best bass lakes in the Lone Star State. The following 11 locations are simply a bucket list of lakes for anyone and everyone who loves bass fishing and has the good fortune to fish for them in Texas. Stick around for the next 10 lakes as well, because there are way too many great fishing holes in this state to contain within anything close to a Top 10 list. Of the 50 biggest bass ever caught in Texas, 30 of them came from Lake Fork, including the over pound largemouth currently sitting atop the state record listing. Lake Fork is a reservoir on a tributary of the Sabine River, spanning a little over 27, acres.

Best crappie lakes in texas

While almost all Texas anglers are interested in bass, there are quite a few that are interested in crappie as well. Outside of those two stipulations, you can target crappie all year long, assuming you understand their seasonal behavior patterns. February and April are the best months to specifically go after crappie in Texas. While crappie will never eclipse bass as one of the most exciting and appetizing fish to catch , the fact that you can catch so many makes for a huge supper and then some. Naming the nine best fishing lakes in Texas is akin to choosing the nine shiniest diamonds in a bag full of very shiny diamonds. There are a lot of lakes in Texas, and although some are better for certain types of fishing than others, the best ones offer a wide range of fishing opportunities, especially for crappie. This lake is also known for producing some monster fish.

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Shore access, boat launch facilities and campgrounds are available at Wolf Creek Park. Another unique and diverse crappie fishing experience would be the lakes of Marion and Moultrie in east central South Carolina between Columbia and Charleston. A lot of fish will be in 2 to 5 feet of water from late March into April. I was catching crappie on every cast, and no one was there to witness this awesome day on the St. Johns River. But the majority of the main lake is noticeably lacking in natural cover. Few lakes give up more crappies weighing 2 pounds or more. Trolling, cork fishing, vertical jigging and shooting docks are all popular options on this lake as well as casting jigs to brush and stumps in the spring and fall. Located within the Guadalupe River Basin, about two hours from either San Antonio or Houston, the lake spans 3, acres, and its waters support outstanding populations of both black and white crappie. Fish are beautiful, too, being gold-tinted, dark, black crappie you can catch while watching an alligator or manatee. White crappies are the target here, and catch rates in recent years have been some of the highest on record. Dina Tom discusses viewers' pediatric health questions.

Grenada Lake offers perfect growing conditions for producing large numbers of trophy fish—with some even approaching 4 pounds. Photo by Frank Sargeant. The South is without a doubt the best region in the country to find and catch the biggest crappie of your life.

Keep in mind, though, that the Chicken Coop is far from the only great area for crappie fishing on Toledo Bend. Learn new fishing skills, boating resources, fishing etiquette, conservation and more. These fish were taken from Arkabutla Lake, Mississippi, last summer, caught in five to nine feet of water. By Season. Guntersville is one of the more stable lakes on the TVA chain. A map of their locations is available here. The FM Launch Ramp is a good place to launch, and there are also several privately owned marinas around the lake. Black crappies down here tend to be a little deeper throughout much of the year. Many locals have sunk brush piles under docks. Recent surveys by Texas Parks and Wildlife have shown a huge abundance of white crappies here, including lots of to inch fish. For crappie anglers, the key to success usually lies in targeting manmade structures. Both white crappie and black crappie call Texas home. Numbers and size have been improving since a big slump a few years ago due to bad spawns, carp, and fishing pressure. Consider wind-protected areas when wind exceeds 10 mph.