Thanks to the numerous lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, Kansas is a hotspot for crappie fishing. Every spring, anglers come from across the state and neighboring states to take advantage of the unique conditions that make Kansas a great place to fish for crappie.
Kansas Crappie Fishing Tips
Best Time of Year
The best time to fish for crappie in Kansas is the early spring when water temperatures start to approach 60 degrees F. This usually begins in March, although depending on the weather conditions it may start a little sooner. Spring is the time of the year when crappie spawn, which means that they are looking for more food to provide the energy needed to lay eggs.
This means that early spring tends to be the best time. In Kansas, it may come as early as February. However, due to the location of the state, it may not arrive until March thanks to the winter weather conditions. The key is the rise of water temperatures that signal to the crappie that spawning season is about to begin.
Best Areas to Fish
In looking over the state of Kansas, there are some areas that are better for crappie fishing than others. This is because some of the man-made lakes have only sparse populations of crappie, so you’ll want to focus more on the reservoirs and streams. Some of the better locations include the following.
Fall River Impoundment: Located in the southwestern part of the state, this is a great place to fish for crappie. Although better known for bass, there is plenty of large crappie in the location. In fact, some of the largest crappies in the state can be found here.
La Cygne: This is a cooling lake for the power plant which means that it stays warm the year-round. If you are fishing for crappie during the off-season, this is the place to go. Plus, thanks to the warmer waters and food supply, the crappie tend to grow large here as well.
Other locations that make for great crappie fishing in the state include the following.
- Coffee County Lake
- Council Grove Reservoir
- Melvern Lake
- Toronto Lake
Tips
The old-fashion methods of catching crappie are still the best in states like Kansas. During the early spring, you may find the most success by using a jig and minnows as bait.
Boat: Although you can fish from the shoreline once the weather warms up, you can enjoy more success in the early spring by using a boat. This is because the crappie tends to be further away from the shore during this time of the year.
Cloudy Water: When fishing along a sloping bank in the spring, look for areas of the water that are cloudy. This may be caused by the male crappie stirring up the bottom to create a nest for the eggs. Male crappie can be found in the cloudy water while the females are often in deeper water.
If you live in or near the state of Kansas, then you have plenty of fishing opportunities for crappie. Just remember that the early spring is the best time of the year to catch crappie.
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