Although it might be argued that bass is the most popular fish in Tennessee, crappie is not that far behind. In fact, many bass anglers will pick up their poles used for crappie fishing in the early spring to catch a mess of crappie. With the number of crappies distributed fairly evenly throughout the state, it’s little wonder that so many who love to fish will go after crappie when in season.
With so many crappies found in the lakes and streams of Tennessee, the limitations are also spread rather evenly. This means that that you have a high catch limit per day that will be observed in virtually all public access bodies of water.
Tennessee Crappie Fishing Tips
Best Time of the Year
As with most of the US, the best time to fish for crappie is in the early spring. The perfect timing is about when March arrives as the crappie start to feed more just before they spawn. Good crappie fishing continues through the late spring but does become a bit more difficult when summer arrives. But it should be noted that crappie can be caught in substantial numbers the year-round if you know where to look.
Best Places to Fish for Crappie
Although you can catch crappie in virtually all lakes, reservoirs, streams, and rivers, there are a few places where the crappie are easier to catch.
Kentucky Lake: The numerous creek channels and ledges that are found in the lake make it the perfect place to find crappie. This is especially true in the early spring months as the water begins to warm to the right temperature for spawning.
Barkley: If there is a body of water well suited for crappie that is being overlooked, it is Barkley reservoir. Mostly because there are other lakes and reservoirs nearby that have built up a fine reputation for crappie fishing. Barkley reservoir receives less attention, but it is still filled with crappie. Other bodies of water that offer excellent crappie fishing include the following.
- Douglas Lake
- Fort Loudoun Lake
- Melton Hill
- Percy Priest.
- Tellico Lake
Tips
As with most crappie fishing, the early spring is the best time o the year. However, there are a few things to look for when you set out to find some crappie.
Drop Jig & Pull: In other words, use your fish radar to spot a gathering of crappie, drop your jig straight down until you find the right depth, and start pulling them into your boat. Once you hit the right spot, it is possible to pull up several crappies from the water.
Deep Water Bluffs: The shallow part of the water that offers shelter such as rocks, grass, and fallen logs are excellent places to find crappie. However, during the early spring, many crappies will use the channels alongside the deep underwater bluffs to navigate to their spawning area. This is the perfect place to catch a lot of crappies.
Tennessee offers plenty of excellent places to find crappie. All you need is the right equipment and good timing particularly in the early spring when the crappie starts to spawn.
