Types

• There are actually two species of crappie: black crappie and white crappie. Black crappie are darker and tend to have a spotted or speckled appearance; they prefer larger and deeper bodies of water. White crappie are lighter with several vertical bands on their sides; these fish generally prefer quiet backwaters. Both species can be found in Michigan, but black crappie are more common. Crappie grow up to about 5 pounds, with 1 pound being average.
  
  

Time Frame

• Although crappie can be caught year-round, spring is by far the most productive time. This is when the fish move into shallow bays and backwaters to spawn and can be easily found by boat or from shore. Late March through May are the best months to fish for crappie in Michigan. After the spawn, crappie move into deeper water for the summer, when they can be hard to find. Crappie can also be caught through the ice in winter in water up to 55 feet deep.
  
  

Lakes

• Crappie can be found extensively across the state of Michigan. Some of the best hot spots include Brevoort Lake, Fletcher Pond, Hamlin Lake, Houghton Lake, Indian Lake, Lake Erie, Lake Gogebic, Lake Huron, Lake Michigamme, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.
  
  

Location

• Crappie like slightly to heavily stained water that is slow moving and prefer temperatures of about 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. During spring, they typically can be found in 5 to 10 feet of water around brush piles, weed edges, drop offs, chunk rock shorelines, stump fields and marshy areas. During summer and fall, they may be found around deep weedlines and drop offs or following schools of bait fish in open water. In early spring, they are usually in the warmest available water in any given lake.
  
  

Tactics

• Drifting small live minnows under bobbers is a time-honored technique for catching crappie. Minnows are a favorite food of crappie, but they also eat worms and various insects, so lures that imitate any of these can be productive. Small tubes and crappie jigs can be cast or jigged vertically, and small spinnerbaits and crankbaits may be cast and retrieved in and around cover.
  
  

Regulations & Licenses

• Fishing is open year-round for crappie in Michigan, and there are no size restrictions. Crappie are listed as sunfish by the Michigan DNR, a group that also includes bluegill, green and hybrid sunfish, longear, pumpkinseed, redear, rock bass and warmouth. A total of 25 may be kept in any combination of these species. Michigan fishing licenses are required to fish for crappie, and these can be purchased at most bait shops and sporting goods stores across the state.