Fishing for crappie is not only a great way to put a tasty treat on the dinner table – it also is a great way to spend time with the whole family.  In addition, Georgia is fortunate to have many areas across the state that offer fabulous crappie fishing opportunities – and right now is the best time of year to give it a try.  The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) recommends these hot spots for crappie fishing, suggested equipment and more.

    “Crappie fishing is a great way to introduce someone to the fun aspect of fishing because there typically is a lot of action,” says WRD Chief of Fisheries Management Chuck Coomer.  “In addition, the whole family can have fun because the techniques used to reel in this fish do not require a tremendous amount of skill – especially in the spring when crappie are found in shallow water - and the equipment needed is not expensive.”

North and southwest Georgia offer some of the best fishing spots for crappie, including lakes Lanier, Nottely, Hartwell, Walter F. George, Allatoona and Weiss.  Crappie prefer to congregate around woody cover, such as stumps, logs, downed trees, fish attractors (man-made structures placed in lakes) and creek ledges – so target these types of areas when fishing. Minnows and small jigs are a favored lure/bait, as is light spinning tackle spooled with 6 or 8 pound test line.

    Some of the hot spots on the previously mentioned lakes include:

·    Lake Weiss – Fish in shallow backwater sloughs such as Brushy Branch.

·    Lake Allatoona – Fish in one of the many major creek arms (Sweetwater, Kellogg or Illinois) or visit a fish attractor site (map available at WRD website – www.gofishgeorgia.com ).

·    Lake Lanier – Fish in the back of coves around natural cover or at fish attractor sites (maps and info are available from the Corps of Engineers at 770-945-9531 or WRD at 770-535-5498).

·    Lake Hartwell –Fish in shallow areas (less than 10 feet deep), backs of coves around natural cover and major cove arms (such as Eastanollee Creek), rather than deeper and clearer waters.

·    Lake Nottely – Fish in shallow water (less than 10 feet deep), backs of coves around natural cover (especially those along the upper half of the reservoir) and fish attractor sites (maps and info available from the U.S. Forest Service at 706-745-6928 or WRD at 770-535-5498).

·    Lake Walter F. George – Fish in creek locations, such as Pataula and White Oak, during April.  By May – crappie move deeper, but stay near brush and river/creek channel ledges in 15-20 feet of water.  May also is a good time to try one (or more) of the 24 marked fish attractors on the Georgia side of the reservoir (Call WRD at 229-995-4486 for fish attractor locations).  



Water Works Wonders!  A recent national survey indicated that 87 percent of Americans believe fishing and boating have a positive effect on family relationships.  So take your family fishing and you will always have something in common.   For more information on crappie fishing in Georgia, visit the WRD website at www.gofishgeorgia.com .  

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