Look for crappie in the brushpile at the east end of the dam. Another hotspot: the Highway 154 bridge pilings. (That state-record bass was caught at the mouth of Little Caney Creek, so maybe lightning will strike twice in the same place -- and maybe the next state record will have your name on it!) Winter crappie will generally be found on points and in coves in a triangular area demarcated by the 154 bridge, the west end of the dam, and Little Caney Point.

Lake Lewisville: Crappie holes are scattered all over this lake, and in winter you shouldn’t be bothered by the boaters and skiers who throng the lake in the summer. Try the Highway 720 bridge, the I-35 bridge, and the trees around Hackberry Point. The Lake Lewisville Fishing Barge is a good place when the weather’s raw.

Lake Tawakoni: The Highway 276 bridge crosses a narrow creek-fed cove; fish the bridge pilings and the edges of the creek channel.

Lake Bob Sandlin: Bridges are the key to winter crappie here, too. Fish the railroad bridge west of the dam and the FM 21 bridge.

Lake Monticello: The railroad bridge on the upper end of the lake, both ends of the FM 127 bridge, the west end of the dam and the power plant water intake all hold promise for seekers of cold-weather crappie.

Lake Cypress Springs: Deep water near the dam is the key to winter crappie fishing here. Fish the creek channel near the midpoint of the dam and the points on the south shore near the dam.

Lake Livingston: The Trinity River above the third bend upstream of the Highway 19 bridge is a worthwhile locale for slab action. Not far downstream is Bethy Creek Marina; try the river channel there, too. The creek channel at the east end of the Highway 190 bridge can also yield up some crappie.

Lake O’ the Pines: The river channel at midlake northwest of the dam is a known crappie hotspot, as is the flooded timber off Watts Island’s west side. The river channel due east of Watts Island is worth a look; if that doesn’t pan out, run west from Watts Island to the mouth of Big Creek.

Toledo Bend Reservoir: In keeping with its size, this huge lake offers numerous places at which to pursue crappie. Among them on the northern section of the lake are the San Miguel bridge, Siepe Bayou, the river channel north of Siepe Bayou, and oxbow bends in the river channel.

Farther south, try the Pendleton and FM 3121 bridge pilings, and the spots upstream of the Pendleton bridge along the river channel known as Crappie Bend, Crappie Tops, and Chicken Coop; look for the boats.