By Mike Innis

It's getting to be that time of the year: The redbud trees are just starting to come out, the weather is beginning to moderate, and the temperatures of lake waters all over Texas are slowly creeping upward.

With all those factors coming into play, the Texas angler's thoughts will be turning to fishing for the black and white crappie that found in almost every impoundment within our borders. The new year looks to be a fantastic one for this fine game fish.

So let's take a careful look at the fish themselves, rigs to catch them on, and tips and techniques that can help you fill your stringers. And then let's tour some of the lakes with the best reputations in the entire state for producing solid catches of crappie.

Most baits will catch fish, provided they're presented to the fish in the right way at the right time. Although minnows and worms are often very effective for catching crappie, you should consider the cost and the hassle associated with replacing them and keeping them fresh on your rig. From time to time a natural bait is all the fish will hit, but artificial lures will generally work year 'round. The three types of artificials most commonly used around the lakes in Texas are as follows.

Photo by Keith Sutton

Whether you buy them or roll your own, coating them with clear fingernail polish will extend their lives. Adding a dash of glitter material to them before the fingernail polish dries will give them some extra flash. Those seeking picky crappie will find these jigs to be perfect for finesse fishing, vertical-jigging over structure, or suspending under a bobber. They are available in 1/8-, 1/16-, or 1/32-ounce weights. Check with local anglers to see what the fish's favorite color happens to be at the lake you're fishing.

Most crappie move into shoreline cover, such as fallen trees, and shallow coves during that time. The females will lay their eggs and move to slightly deeper water while the males stay in the shallows and guard the nest. If you catch several smaller fish in shallow water, move to the nearest dropoff, and you may find the larger females.

Crappie love structure, so key on areas with prominent cover. Rockpiles, shallow coves, stumps, points, fallen trees, and submerged brush are all classic crappie hideouts. Many anglers sink old bushes, tires, and even wooden palettes to create habitat for big fish.

Vertical-jigging is a logical method for fishing submerged cover. A 1/32- or 1/16-ounce jig dropped into brush and twitched will bring up many fish if conditions are right. Try swimming a small spinner through stumpfields or along fallen trees to locate the slabs. When you identify the depth at which most of the fish are holding, try suspending a jig or minnow there under a small bobber.