No time like the present for crappie anglers

A three generation group of crappie fishermen, each caught their limits of crappie in a short time last Saturday while fishing at Otter Creek. Holding up one of the limits is Lane Sanders, with his father Owen (right) and son Tim. The other two limits are on stringers in their livewell. (Photo by Ken White/Special to the Daily Mail)

If you are a crappie angler, now is the time to hit the water.

Fishing reports from area lakes show the crappie run is on and anglers are taking limits of these tasty fish at Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Pomme de Terre, Lake of the Ozarks, Stockton, Truman and Smithville as well as other area impoundments streams and tributaries.

Everything from minnows to jigs have been used to catch fish. They are in water from one to four-feet deep. Missouri anglers love to fish for crappie. One reason the crappie are so popular is their eagerness to bite. They are lots of fun to catch and great to eat.

Usually the best time to catch these panfish is during the spawning run that happens in late-April and early-May. Spawning starts when the water temperature hits the mid-50s and peaks when the water temperature hits the mid-60s. You might find crappie along the bank in water as shallow as 6 inches deep, or up to 10-feet deep water. The clearer the water, the deeper they spawn.

Most spawning happens in coves like the one on Truman's Otter Creek. Water in the cove is usually dingy so the fish are in shallow water.

Last week while there, I spoke to Jeff Mezzacasa, Kansas City. He said, "I have been catching lots of crappie for the past week while fishing at Otter Creek here on Truman. I started turkey hunting and since hunting ends at 1 o'clock daily, I spend the rest of the day catching crappie. Its been very good at other places also.

"I have property at nearby Waeaubleau, so when the crappie are hitting in April and May I get down here as often as I can. I have caught lots of fish here. I have been using white Roadrunners as well as minnows. Some of my fishing friends say now is the time to catch crappie."

Jim Walker, Springfield, has fished at Otter Creek for nearly 20 years. He caught a limit of crappie including a two pounder last week. Since the fishing was so good, he passed up turkey hunting until next week.

Other crappie anglers report good crappie fishing. Truman tops the list for anglers as a great place to catch lots of fish during the spawn. While waiting for a friend to meet him at the dock, Jack Mayfield, Warsaw, said he watched about a dozen fishermen come to the landing with their limits of 15 crappie each.

"I couldn't wait any longer for my friend and had to get a line in the water," he said. "I walked the bank and caught a limit of crappie before my friend showed up. We never launched the boat because we had our limits while fishing from the bank using a bobber with a white jig about a foot below the surface."

A three generation group of crappie anglers, Owen Sanders, Deepwater, his son Lane and grandson Tim of Kansas City, all caught their limits of 15 crappie each in a short time last Saturday.

Owen, who lives close to Otter Creek said, "Since I have fished this hot-spot for many years, I don't waste time looking for the fish because I have learned the places where they can be found. It didn't take very long before we all had our limit of big crappie."

Wade Rapp, Schell City, hadn't fished for crappie before this year. He said, "I am a farmer and usually don't take time to go fishing, but now that I have started, I plan on doing a lot more. I have fished here at Otter Creek several times recently and caught crappie. Each time I'm here it gets better.

Wade Rapp. Schell City, was one of the many successful crappie anglers pulling out crappie from Otter Creek on Truman Lake. (Photo by Ken White/Special to the Daily Mail)

Neal Fernandez, who lives near Otter Creek, fishes Otter Creek and Truman often. His son, Matt, said, "Dad has caught a lot of crappie from Truman over the years and in April you can usually find him crappie fishing. That's his favorite fish and about all he fishes for."

Darin Lutman, Warsaw, was at a favorite spot last Saturday. While fishing from the bank he was pulling out some big crappie including a two-pounder. He said, " The fishing has been good and should get even better. I caught one yesterday that weighed nearly three pounds. It's a great place to catch spawning crappie in April as well as early-May. I have been catching both males and females."

Dwight Baker, Warsaw, has a favorite pond where he usually can count on catching bass and crappie. I tried the two-acre pond last week and after a slow start I started catching some big crappie. When I got home, I measured the largest ones and they went 11 to 12 inches. Usually the crappie I catch are in the 8-9 inch range. Although the bass weren't hitting, the crappie made up for it."

Among the good crappie catching stories is one from Paul Nichols, Sedalia. The family went on a two-day camping trip at Truman and brought along some fishing gear. All of the family members caught crappie including 6-year-old Jack, who also caught the largest fish, a two-pound crappie while Paul's wife Sue, caught a limit before fixing breakfast. In total, the Nichols caught more than 50 crappie in their short camping trip. Paul said, "It was the best camping-fishing trip we ever had and we will be back soon."

Nichols said, "I usually fish for bass, but when the crappie start spawning in late-April, I go turkey hunting in the morning and crappie fishing after 1 p.m. If I get my bird, then I fish for crappie and look for mushrooms all day. Ever since I started hunting turkey in Missouri, April is my favorite month of the year."

There's no doubt that this is the time of year crappie fishing on any of the large impoundments as well as small lakes and even farm ponds is as good as it gets.