Indiana is home to both black and white crappie, offering many opportunities to catch this panfish in the streams, ponds, and lakes that dot the state. While you may find one more dominant that the other depending on the location that you fish, the maximum you can catch is 25 total for both white black crappie each day.
White crappie tends to be found more in the northern part of the state. While black crappie is more predominant in the southern part of the state. The state record for black crappie is 4 pounds, 8.8 ounces in Kinkaid Lake. While the record for white crappie is 4 pounds, 11 ounces in a private pond located in Jennings County.
Indiana Crappie Fishing Tips
Although crappie may be caught year-round in Indiana, the best time is usually just before and during the spawning season. This usually starts in late April to early May when the water temperature reaches 55 degrees F. Another excellent time is in the fall when the water temperatures start to drop. In both cases, the crappie tends to move towards the shallower water that offers some shelter and they feed.
You should focus your efforts during the early spring and late fall around standing timber, docks, sunken logs, and brush piles where the crappie tend to gather.
Best Places to Fish for Crappie
You can find crappie in virtually all lakes, streams, and large ponds in Indiana. But there are some locations which have proven to be better than others.
- Worster Lake
- Hamilton Lake
- Webster Lake
- Sylvan Lake
- Bass Lake
These are generally considered to be the best lakes for crappie fishing. However, you can also catch quite a few crappies in the following lakes.
- Bruce Lake
- Lake Manitou
- Salamonie Lake
- Mississinewa Lake
- Westwood Run Lake
Outside of lakes, there are plenty of other locations where crappie are abundant which include the following.
- Prairie Creek Reservoir
- Eagle Creek Reservoir
- Thousand Island Pit
- Loon & Otter Pit
Tips
You can use modern lures along with fish-finding electronic devices, but you can also use the old-fashioned rod, reel, live bait, and patience to fish from the shoreline. Either way, it’s possible to catch a considerable amount of crappie each day when you follow a few tips.
Hug the Shoreline: The key to finding crappie in the prime months is where there is shelter underwater. This means the sunken logs, beds of weeds and grass, and stones or other natural features that offer shelter.
Drop the Jig: Instead of casting and reeling across the water, try dropping a jig into a weed bed or other sheltered area below the surface. Crappie tends to hang out in such places to feed. This means that you might pull several up from the same location if you drop, let rest, and pull when they bite.
Indiana offers plenty of places to fish for white and black crappie. Remember that while the early spring and late fall are the best times, you can fish the year-round and be successful.
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