Crappie is a springtime favorite of Oklahoma anglers. These tasty fish can be caught near shore in great numbers during their spring spawn. Small soft plastic lures, hair jigs and live minnows are essential crappie fishing tackle. March through May is the peak window for bank anglers targeting crappie. Areas with hard bottom, standing timber and brushy cover are ideal habitats.

Crappie is tasty table fare. Their flaky white meat is great for fried bites or pan seared for tacos. Bigger fillets can be wrapped in foil with butter, salt and pepper and thrown on the grill or baked in the oven.

For bank anglers, reachable transition areas for casting typically include fishing jetties, long points with coves or shallow bays on either side or the dam. Covered fishing docks and marinas can also provide bank anglers access to transition areas.

Harvest of crappie between 6- and 12-inches is an important tool for a healthy crappie population. Crappie are highly susceptible to stunting when left unchecked, especially in smaller bodies of water. With a liberal daily bag limit of 37-crappie, anglers can have a big impact each year on the future success of their favorite crappie fisheries.