Florida's Top Crappie Spots
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 The
black crappie (a.k.a. speckled perch, speck, or papermouth)
is a favorite sportfish throughout Florida. It is also a very
tasty panfish, and a generous daily bag limit of 25 fish
provides a healthy “mess” of fish for many anglers.
During warmer months, many speckled perch fanatics locate their
quarry on or around deeper, underwater structures that will show
on electronic fish finders. Others prefer slow-trolling or
drifting in open water with live bait or small jigs, either
singly or in tandem, to zero-in on concentrations of crappie.
Warm weather fishing at nighttime, in the glow of lantern lights
and Hydro Glow 12-volt light fixtures, is also becoming
increasingly popular with crappie anglers.
Locating the proper depth at which crappie are feeding is vital.
Sometimes they’ll be just a foot or two from the surface, while
at other times, they may be a foot or two from the bottom.
Figure out their depth preference and you’re in business.
No telling when or where you’ll meet up with these fishing
favorites in Florida, as they’re apt to be just about anywhere
and everywhere. To simplify the dilemma of where to fish, noted
fisheries biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) have come up with a list of
suggested crappie hotspots for 2006, in no particular order. For
more information on Florida’s freshwater fisheries, visit
www.FloridaFisheries.com/Fishes.
Many of Florida’s best crappie fisheries produce consistently
year after year. Notably missing for 2006, however, is
450,000-acre Lake Okeechobee. Recently revered by crappie and
largemouth bass anglers nationwide, the “Big O” is currently
imperiled by environmental consequences following record setting
Hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005 when devastating storm winds
repeatedly wreaked havoc on Okeechobee’s aquatic plant
communities. FWC biologists will continue to monitor the lake’s
health as it hopefully recovers over time. Meanwhile, we’re
confident that Lake Okeechobee will eventually return to
premiere fishing status.
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Orange Lake /
Lochloosa Lake
(located
between Gainesville and Ocala) |
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The water level
on Orange Lake is back up after being down for years. As a
result, crappie fishing has also rebounded. Crappie were biting
in open water through last fall, and they’ll start again when
the weather warms up this spring. Crappie in this lake like to
hit jigs and minnows. Lily pads are favorite hangouts.
FWC biologists
poured some intensive lake management talent into 5,500-acre
Lake Lochloosa, while Mother Nature raised the water level back
to what it needs to be. As a result, crappie have responded
there too. Fish around the lily pads in the southeast and
northwest parts of the lake and in the narrow connection to
Little Lake Lochloosa when you’re after crappie. Also, the
patches of maiden cane are good spots to try when crappie get
ready to spawn in early spring.
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Lake
Monroe (near Sanford) |
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The FWC’s
habitat-restoration wizards have been tuning up this 9,400-acre
sweetie-pie since the late 1980’s, and they’ve got her really
purring. Since the Commission lifted the 12-inch minimum length
limit in July 2005, anglers have flocked back to Monroe and put
up impressive catch rates. Big crappie go for small jigs, Bream
Killers, Hal-Flies or Beetlespins. Missouri minnows and grass
shrimp also work.
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Lake
Jessup (south of Sanford) |
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You can wear
yourself out catching crappie on this 10,000-acre honeyhole.
They run a little smaller than crappie you’ll find in other
lakes in this part of central Florida, but there are bunches of
them just waiting to get caught on minnows by anglers who
drift-fish in the middle of the lake and near Bird Island. Lots
of crappie also hang out in the Soldier Creek area and the north
end of the lake, where it connects to the St. Johns River.
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Lake Talquin (west of Tallahassee) |
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Think about it. This
8,800-acre reservoir is just outside Tallahassee. It’s where the FWC’s
top brass goes fishing, so you know they’re going to make sure this baby
doll gets all the attention it can use. Is it any surprise the state
record 3-pound, 13 ¼-ounce black crappie was pulled out of Lake Talquin?
This lake has lots of submerged stumps and snags, so you don’t want to
go hot-rodding around it in a boat. But, if you want to catch some nice
crappie, and you’re willing to abide by the 10-inch minimum size limit,
you’ll love it here.
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Tenoroc / Mosaic Fish Management Area (Polk
County) |
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Fishing for
crappie on Tenoroc, a 7,300-acre Fish Management Area near
Lakeland, can be a rewarding experience, especially during
cooler months. With lakes ranging in size from seven to 227
acres, anglers will have plenty of areas to dunk a bobber with a
minnow or jig. Schooling fish can often be caught using this
rig near deep drop-offs and underwater humps. Casting a small
Beetlespin lure or jig tipped with a minnow can also produce
some nice stringers of fish. Try Lakes 3,4,5, and F for some of
the best action. Call the Tenoroc office at (863) 499-2422 for
more information or to make reservations, because these lakes
are only open to fishing four days a week.
Lakes within
the 1000-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 with this rig can also be productive, especially during
the winter months. Casting a small Beetlespin or jig into
deeper areas can also produce fish at times. Try Pine Lake
East, Coulter Lake and Haul Road Pit for some of the best
action. The area is only open to fishing four days a week and
it’s first come-first serve - but don’t worry, you’ll always
have a spot somewhere. For more information, please call (863)
499-2421 ext.104.
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Lake Istokpoga (near Seabring) |
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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, 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.
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Lake
Kissimmee (east of
the city of Lake Wales) |
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It’s not just a famous
largemouth bass fishing spot. A few years ago, you wouldn’t have seen
35,000-acre Lake Kissimmee on this list, but . . . BOOM . . . things
changed about four years ago, and crappie fishing here has been
excellent ever since. Anglers are catching big ones too. Some of them
throw the 10-inchers back, and say things like “That one was tiny.” To
catch your share of crappie in this lake, fish with minnows and jigs
along the grass line and offshore. The deeper holes off the grass lines
are good spots too.
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Lake
Marian
(southeast Oceola county, east of Lake Kissimmee) |
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This is the lake to
fish when you want to catch lots of crappie, and you don’t care if
they’re not the biggest fish you’ve ever seen. They’re big enough at 9
inches or more though, and they’re packed into this 5,739-acre lake; so,
it’s not hard to find them with minnows, small jigs and such. Troll,
drift fish…whatever works for you, and go home and have fresh fish for
dinner. Then, just for fun, call your friends up north, who are in the
middle of a blizzard, and rub it in about your fishing trip.
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Lake Weir (south Marion County) |
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This is another lake on
the rebound that is producing very good crappie catches. Located near
Weirsdale, this 5685-acre lake is somewhat atypical, with lots of depths
exceeding 20 feet and irregular bottom encounters. The FWC refurbished
many old fish attractors and built several new ones this summer and
anglers are already utilizing them successfully. For productive GPS
coordinates of these attractors, contact our fishery biologists at
352-732-1225. Most anglers use minnows and grass shrimp near the
attractors, but some will drift the open waters too.
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West
Lake Tohopekaliga
(south of the city of Kissimmee) |
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In addition to its fame
as a nationally acclaimed largemouth bass destination, Lake Toho has
quickly gained a reputation in central Florida as a super spot for big
and adundant crappie. Quite a few FWC “Big Catch” crappie (minimum 14
inches in length or 2 pounds in weight) have already been reported this
year and fall catch rates approached 2½ fish per hour. Anglers are
having the most success on FWC fish attractors with Hal Flies (most any
color) and minnows. For GPS coordinates of the fish attractors on Lake
Toho, contact our fishery biologists at 407-846-5300.
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