Gary Engberg Outdoors

Local Column River Currents 3-15-2010 Early Crappies

gengberg March 15th, 2010

River Currents Hot Spots for Early Spring Crappies on Lake Mendota

The warm weather the past ten days has had me in the mood for open water fishing. This past weekend, I should have been working around the house instead of driving the area looking for early open water for crappies, checking out the Wisconsin River for pre-spawn walleyes and saugers, and walking the fields and woods looking for antler sheds. The smell and sounds of spring are in the air with migrating birds passing through the state, most snow melting, tulips popping out of the ground in sunny locations, and turkeys getting together for the not so distant mating season. We may still get a snow storm or two, but I think that spring is definitely in the air. The Wisconsin River finally has a good current flow which will get walleye anglers out in force to try and catch some of the biggest fish of the year. After a winter of snow and cold, spring is here!
Anglers, after a good ice fishing season, are anxiously waiting to fish open water. The are numerous locations around Lake Mendota for early pre-spawn crappies. The key to catching early ice-out crappies is to know what kind of habitat they gravitate to this time of year. All of the lakes in the Madison Chain and many other waters in the area, produce spring crappies, if you know the locations that they actively seek out and the proper techniques to use.
Even before the ice has totally left the area’s lakes, crappies can be caught in open water around the lakes edges. The water temperature in the open water ranges from the mid 40’s; with 50 degrees being the magic temperature for this early bite. Water temperatures can vary greatly this time of year and shallow water temperatures can rise dramatically on a sunny day. The crappies and all other fish coming out of the “funk” of winter now have a very slow metabolism. Fish will actively seek out warmer water locations where the water is calm. Fish and particularly crappies, actively seek out these warmer water spots with a few degrees warmer being all that is needed to attract them.
Anglers should realize that location is the single most important factor in finding pre-spawn crappies. This time of year, crappies like warm, quiet, and calm waters off and away from the main lake or in this case Lake Mendota. Prime examples of areas where you’ll find this kind of location are; boat channels, secluded bays, canals, feeder creeks, and backwater areas. If any of these locations have a dark or mud bottom, so much the better because these “spots” warm quicker and also hold their warmth longer. Think of these spots as “solar collectors” for crappies seeking out the warmest locations in the lake.
The next location to check for crappies is the wood or timber in these secluded areas. Always, remember that crappies love wood! When available, look for crappies around and near trees, brush, downed timber, wood piers, and boat hoists. The crappies are going to be in shallow water, usually only 2 to 3 feet deep. Another important thing about fishing near wood is that the wood warms up quicker and absorbs the early spring sunshine. The adjacent water warms and begins to get the food chain in motion. The warmer water allows the microscopic plankton to emerge and attract the forage fish (minnows) which in turn bring in the crappies.
Another early season tip is to fish the northern shoreline of lakes because it gets the most sunshine and warms up much quicker than the rest of the lake. Another key element is to have a south wind blowing the warmer surface water back to the crappies in the quiet bays away from the main lake. The mouths of feeder creeks and streams are also affected by the warming southern winds which blow warm water to the crappies.
Lake Mendota has many of the keys that you are looking for in your crappie hunt. The north shore of Mendota has numerous feeder creeks that flow into the lake while attracting crappies in the early spring. These feeder creeks are; Six Mile Creek, Pheasant Branch Creek, and the mouth of the Yahara River. Continue Reading »