Compiled by: Cheree Steward
The following areas were selected by Florida's
freshwater fisheries biologists as being the most likely to be
highly productive for black crappie during 2012 (see Top Sites
Map).
Rodman Reservoir (Between
Gainesville and Palatka)
Rodman Reservoir produces great hauls
of black crappie for those who target these fish in the
impoundment. Known more for producing reliable catches of big
largemouth bass, this location draws fishermen seeking specks as
well. While there is much less effort targeted at crappie
than at bass here, success rates for crappie harvest are very good
and can be outstanding. Catch and harvest rates here exceed
those of some of the most storied crappie lakes of north central
Florida. Adding to the allure of normally excellent
crappie angling is the opportunity provided in 2012 by the
scheduled draw-down of the reservoir. As water levels fall,
fish are funneled into deeper areas toward the central channel and
flooded timber near the dam. This concentration can make fish
easier to locate and target. The effect is so pronounced that
rules are established for largemouth bass to eliminate harvest for
those fish during drawdown periods, but crappie are still fair
game. Early on in the drawdown, boat access is limited by the
lack of water at the usual public ramps. Once the water level
nears target lows, temporary ramps will be opened. Check with
the Florida DEP Cross Florida Greenway-Ocala office at 352-236-7143
for access updates.
Lake Monroe (Near
Sanford)
This nearly 10,000 acre lake is part of the St.
Johns River chain and is located just off of I-4 about halfway
between Orlando and Daytona Beach. Lake
Monroe is known for quality size fish and black crappie
angling is popular during the cooler months. Reports by
anglers this year indicated excellent fishing. Drifting and
trolling near the river channel and offshore from the power plant
on the northwest shore are popular, but aggregations may be located
anywhere on the lake. Crappie move inshore in late
winter/early spring for spawning and appear to prefer bulrush when
available at the preferred water depths.
Lake Talquin (West of
Tallahassee)
This 8,800-acre reservoir is located just outside
Tallahassee. The 10" minimum size limit on the lake helps maintain
the crappie fishery. The state record, 3-pound, 13 ¼-ounce
black crappie was pulled out of Lake Talquin. This lake has a lot of
submerged stumps and snags, so proceed with caution, particularly
in the upper half of the lake. Concentrate in deep water
early in the year with jigs or minnows. Fish in shallower
water around the lily pads in late February thru April as fish move
up to spawn.
Lake Weohyakapka / Walk-in-Water
(East of Lake Wales)
Hydrilla has not returned to 7,800 acre Lake
Weohyakapka since the hurricanes of 2004, leaving plenty of
open water to troll and drift for crappie. Good numbers and
some quality fish are caught in deeper (10 foot) areas of the lake
during the cooler months and in shoreline vegetation (bulrush,
knotgrass, and maidencane) during the spring spawning season.
Missouri minnows fished under corks or on small jig heads, as well
as Hal-Flies and small spinners, are excellent for catching your
share of crappie. Seven brush-type fish attractors were
installed in December 2010, and should concentrate fish for
offshore anglers. An angler survey during spring 2011
estimated 1.6 fish per hour were caught by black crappie
anglers. For more detailed information please contact one of
our fisheries biologists at 863-648-3200.
Lake Weir (South Marion
County)
Located near Weirsdale, this 5,685-acre lake is
somewhat atypical for a Florida lake, with an irregular bottom
and depths exceeding 20 feet. The FWC maintains 12 brush fish
attractors on Lake
Weir which are successfully utilized by many anglers. The
attractors were refurbished with new brush in January 2010.
These attractors can be easily spotted by the large yellow marker
buoys. FWC is also experimenting with Fish-in-a-Barrel
attractors (FIAB) on Lake Weir. These are PVC cubes
surrounding PVC barrel halves that were designed to provide
structure without snagging tackle. These attractors are
marked by yellow buoys with blue caps. Most anglers use minnows and
grass shrimp near the attractors, but some will drift the open
waters too. If you would like to participate in an FWC survey of
the fish attractors, or for GPS coordinates for the attractors,
contact our fisheries biologists at 352-732-1225.
Lake Arbuckle (East of
Frostproof)
This dark-water 3,800 acre lake produces quality
crappie year after year. They can be found in each of the
three basins that make up the lake. During the cooler months,
crappie are caught by drifting or trolling in the deep water in the
middle of the basins, and in spring the fish move to the grass
patches and the lily pads on the edges to spawn. Live
Missouri minnows and small spinners are the baits of choice on
Arbuckle.
Lake Marian (Southeast Osceola
County, east of Lake Kissimmee)
Although it pales in size to the likes of lakes
Kissimmee and Tohopekaliga, Lake Marian (5,742 acres) holds its own
with regard to black crappie fishing. Arguably one of the
most consistent black crappie fisheries of any lake on the
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, anglers routinely catch limits of crappie
trolling or drifting minnows in open water off of Whiskey Point,
Jordan Slough, and Four-Mile Point. When crappie are inshore
during the spawning season, jig fishing can be outstanding in and
around native grasses, bulrush, and lily pads. Even though
the lake is located well beyond the lights of any big city, anglers
don't seem to mind the drive to experience some exceptional crappie
fishing.
Lake Marion
(East of Haines City)
For those "in the know" this 2,990-acre lake
appears on most lists of top speck sites. While not known for
producing large crappie, Marion is widely regarded as one of the
better "numbers" lakes. During the cooler months, crappie move into
the bulrushes, cattails and lily pads to spawn. In warmer months,
they're found by drifters and slow trollers in open water areas.
Cane-polers are likely to employ Missouri minnows here, while those
using light spinning tackle claim nothing beats Hal-Flies or beetle
spins.
West Lake Tohopekaliga (South of
the city of Kissimmee)
While well known for bass fishing, Lake Toho
(18,810 acres) has also gained a reputation in central Florida as a
prime location for anglers to catch black crappie. Good
numbers of fish are caught on an annual basis by anglers drifting
minnows in open water between Makinson and Paradise Islands, the
mouth of Shingle Creek, and around channel marker 24. Anglers
also have good success jig fishing in and around hydrilla patches
within these areas. Each year many large crappie are mixed in
with anglers' limits for those who put in the time to locate
concentrations of fish.
Lake Kissimmee (East of the city
of Lake Wales)
Classified by many as a stellar bass fishing lake,
Lake
Kissimmee (34,976 acres) also ranks high up on the list of
popular destinations for many black crappie anglers. Anglers
consistently catch limits of fish drifting minnows in open water
near the mouth of the C-37 canal, the north end of North Cove,
between Brahma and Bird Islands, and around channel markers 7 and
8. Anglers also have good success jig fishing in and around
patches of lily pads and native grasses within these areas.
Mosaic Fish Management Area
(Southern Polk County)
Lakes within the 1,000-acre Mosaic Fish Management
area near Ft. Meade in southern Polk County have some mighty fine
crappie populations. The dozen lakes on the area range in
size from 10 to 200 acres and many have shorelines with an abundant
supply of woody brush, tree tops, and vegetation that are perfect
targets for placing a well-hooked minnow under a float.
Trolling deeper areas in open water to locate schools of crappie
with this rig can also be productive, especially during
winter. Casting a small Beetle Spin or jig into deeper areas
can also produce fish at times. Try lakes SP12 South and Haul
Road Pit for some of the best action. The area is only open
to fishing four days a week (Friday-Monday) and it's first-come,
first-served but don't worry-you'll always have a spot
somewhere. For more information, please call
863-648-3200.
Lake Istokpoga (Near
Sebring)
This lake may best be known for its
largemouth bass fishing, but others know that winter is prime time
to catch crappie in this 28,000-acre fishing wonder. From November
through April, Lake Istokpoga anglers troll open water
with Hal-Flies, doll flies, spinner jigs and Napier jigs to locate
schools of crappie and then rack up the numbers. When the water
temperature stabilizes around 65 degrees, crappie move into bulrush
and spatterdock along the shoreline to spawn. There's a trick to
catching them when that happens. Move slowly through the vegetation
in three to six feet of water and thoroughly cover the holes and
pockets among the vegetation with a crappie jig.
Lake Trafford (Near
Immokalee)
Located in Immokalee about 30 miles southeast of
Fort Myers, 1500-acre Lake Trafford is also regarded as a good
"numbers" lake for black crappie. Biologists recently
completed the largemouth bass restocking program for Trafford and
anglers are catching the occasional small bass while crappie
fishing. The regulation for bass is 18" minimum to give
stocked bass an opportunity to spawn before being harvested.
FWC biologists sampled record numbers of young crappie last year
and expect many of these fish to start recruiting into the fishery
this year and next. Biologist Ralph LaPrairie (561-625-5122)
recommends drifting minnows early or late in the day and if you
can't locate schooling crappie in the middle, try jigs and minnows
along the vegetated shoreline. The crappie are always moving
in Trafford.
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