| Fishing crappie in NC can produce some real winners, | | | | the lake. |
| especially in the spring, when large crappie are | | | | Another popular location for crappie fishing in NC is |
| beginning to spawn and are readily available in shallow | | | | Buggs Island, which is officially called John H. Kerr |
| areas of the lakes. What are the best locations in | | | | Reservoir. Spread out over more than 50,000 acres, |
| North Carolina, and during what months of the year do | | | | this impoundment contains an incredible crappie |
| each produce the best catch? | | | | population and can be fished, as well as south of the |
| During the spring, there are few lakes, ponds, rivers, | | | | border in some places. The crappie here are large and |
| reservoirs, or any other body of fresh water where | | | | well fed, and you'll always find a great catch |
| crappie are not in great supply. During the pre-spawn | | | | regardless of the fact that there is no limit. There is a |
| run in early spring and the spawning season throughout | | | | tremendous amount of cover along the banks that |
| the rest of spring, you'll find an incredible amount of | | | | crappie prefer as a hiding and resting place. In NC, |
| action on any area lakes. Crappie fishing, however, is | | | | fishing is still excellent in the winter, when trolling should |
| best in particular areas of the state. | | | | be used to achieve the best possible results. Beware |
| Lake Wylie is a 13,000+ acre impoundment off | | | | of changing water levels, though - while the change |
| Catawba River that is on the border between South | | | | strikes movement in crappie that stirs up activity, it also |
| and North Carolina. Fishing here can produce two-plus | | | | means inconsistency in the level at which you'll find |
| pound crappie even on a bad day. Year after year, | | | | your best catch. |
| avid anglers return to this spring crappie hot spot and | | | | If you plan to participate, you'll want to read up on the |
| catch their limits daily. However, even in the winter, | | | | most appropriate techniques by season. In most lakes, |
| Lake Wylie has begun to produce an excellent crop of | | | | if you choose to spend some time in winter, you'll want |
| fish. Year-round crappie fishing is a huge sport in the | | | | to attempt trolling, as this is the only real way to catch |
| area; know that the best spots in the winter and early | | | | the eye of the somewhat languid fish that are |
| spring are the deep docks in the lower half of the lake | | | | practically hibernating on the bottom of the lake. |
| around the mouths of the major creeks that break off | | | | |