Early spring crappies and gills

It’s Canada and it’s cold that’s why as soon as the ice leaves the lake, I’m on the water looking for early season crappie and gills. These fish can be hard to find in cold water but here are some tips that will help you find these taste early season treats.

First you want to take note of temperature in the main basin of water (deeper channels ect). This will let you know what the base temperature is, allowing you to look for warmer water. Early season crappie will be shallow except in cold front situations they will head into the deeper water, to wait it out until the rest of the water hits feeding temps again. So you’re best advised to head out for these guys in the warmer weather.

Early season pan fish are looking to feed or find the bait just like any other species. Shallow creeks, bays or shore lines that are close to their deep winter areas are a great place to start looking. North shores will be warmer because of the sun they receive and will be the first place on a lake that will show any weed growth.

This year on my first trip out on a mud /rock bottom lake the water in the main part of  the lake was 46, and on the north shore I found water in the low 50s (in less than 3 feet of water).  The ice had just left the lake a week before going out, so there was no new weed growth. I had to find other structures to fish, fallen trees and old lily pad roots were the best spot to find fish holding tight to the bank.

It is important to fish through every inch of a back bay or creek, because crappie will be tightly schooled together, and may only hold one section or one fallen tree.

So this spring try to find warm water even it’s only a degree or two. Break out the slip floats and get your boat on the water a month early. It sure beats sitting on the couch, and since the Leafs aren’t in the playoffs there’s no reason to be watching hockey!

Ian west