Crappies have their own little niche in the food chain. They thrive in Michigan's impoundments and drowned river-mouth lakes that are tannic-stained, murky and full of stumps, logs, pilings and other structure. Crappies are also very adaptable when it comes to food. Although they love minnows, papermouths will capitalize on seasonal abundances of insects and other invertebrates when they become available.

Michigan has a number of bodies of water ideally suited to growing big crappies. A lot of anglers don't fish for crappies because they can be difficult to catch. Because of their propensity to suspend in the water column, crappies can be difficult to locate during much of the year. It takes good electronics and knowledge of crappie habits to catch them consistently. The exception is during the spring, when crappies congregate and move into the shallows to feed and spawn. Late March through May is the perfect time to take advantage of their seasonal movements and heightened level of activity.

The following is a sampling of Michigan crappie lakes that are sure to produce hot fishing this spring.

DEER LAKE
"Deer Lake is probably one of the best lakes in our area for trophy crappies," said Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Todd Kalish. "Deer Lake is kind of kidney-shaped, with a lot of stumps and a well-defined weedline. It's a very good place to fish for crappies in the spring."

Prime locations are in the bays on the north and south ends of the lake in as little as 5 feet of water. Crappies can be found just about everywhere during the spawn. The deepest spot in the lake is 22 feet.

This 490-acre Charlevoix County lake isn't one where you're going to fill a five-gallon bucket, but you will find decent numbers of specks to 14 inches. You can suspend a minnow under a bobber, swim tiny jigs or cast and retrieve small Beetle Spins and micro crankbaits for the biggest papermouths. On the southeast corner, there is a public ramp with parking for eight vehicles.

For more information, contact the DNR Traverse City field office at (231) 922-5280.

BELLAIRE LAKE CHAIN
"I would have to say that Six Mile, St. Clair, Ellsworth, Wilson and Ben-Way lakes are some of the best lakes in our area for crappies," claimed Tom Durecki of Tom's Bait & Tackle in East Jordan. "There are some really nice crappies in those lakes. On the wall in the shop, I've got one 17 1/4 inches that came out of that chain."

The lakes are part of the Bellaire Chain of lakes in Antrim County. The lakes range from 64 to 131 acres in size and are relatively shallow. The deepest spot on these lakes is a little over 40 feet. There are public accesses on St. Clair, Ellsworth and Wilson lakes, but because it is a chain, once you launch on one lake, you have access to all the others.