Crappie can be found in most states and Ohio is no exception. In fact, there are plenty of good spots in the state where crappie can be found. As with most areas, the traditional means of catching crappie using jigs and live bait work well. But there are fishing tips that are unique to Ohio, including the best time to fish, the best places to go, and other advice.
Ohio Crappie Fishing Tips
Best Time to Fish
Although crappie can be caught the year-round, the best time begins just before they spawn. At this time, crappie is looking for more food and become easier to catch. In Ohio, this means starting just as spring is arriving in March with spawning season lasting until June.
However, you can fish the year-round for crappie. While most of the state can get quite cold during the winter months, there are still places to fish for crappie during that time.
Locations
If there is a lake, bay, stream, or river, you can bet there will be crappie as well. However, there are some places in Ohio that are better than others if you want to catch plenty of crappies.
Alum Creek Lake: Nearly 70 miles of shoreline offer plenty of places to fish for crappie. The northern part of the lake is the best with the steeper banks and fallen timber offering lots of shelter for the crappie. For those who love to catch crappie, this is one of the best lakes with plenty of ways to access the shore.
Delaware Lake: One of the best places to catch both white and black crappie, Delaware Lake has become a favorite of anglers in the springtime. The best place to fish for crappie is the southern part of the lake that offers sloping shores and deep channels where the crappie like to gather.
Sandusky Bay: Arguably the place where the biggest schools and the biggest crappie can be found in the state, Sandusky Bay provides the perfect home for crappie that tend to grow bigger and hang around in larger schools compared to other places in Ohio. It’s not unusual to catch crappie up to 17” long thanks to the calm conditions and shallow waters near the shore that provide plenty of shelter for the fish.
Other Tips
If you are fishing during the spring and summer months, you’ll want to start before the surface water temperature reaches 70 degrees F. At this point, the crappie will tend to leave the shallow areas and go into open water where they become more difficult to catch.
If you plan on fishing one of the many pools located in the Ohio River, then you will need to contact the local lockmaster to not only find out the conditions of the water. But also, if there are any special regulations that apply to that particular pool. Remember that the creel limit is 30 crappies for fishing in the Ohio River.
Fishing for crappie in Ohio offers plenty of opportunities as one of the best places in the US. If you choose the right location during the spring, there are many crappies waiting for you.
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