Another springtime hotspot is on the south end in 5 to 10 feet of water. Use slip-bobbers to suspend live bait, or cast artificials on ultralight gear. There is a state-owned public launch at Mitchell State Park on the east side of the lake.

A popular spring crappie fishery develops along the M-55 causeway on the west side of Lake Cadillac. Both bank-fishermen and anglers in boats take buckets of crappies as they move in just after ice-out. The shallow water here warms quickly, and there is an abundance of stumps and logs to attract forage and crappies. Most people suspend minnows under bobbers to avoid the snags, but hopping small jigs can be very productive, too. After the spawn and throughout the summer, shore-anglers continue to catch stringers of good-sized specks off the fishing pier on the north end of the lake. Proximity to deep water here attracts schools of crappies.

For more information on Lake Mitchell crappies, contact Pilgrim's Village & Resort at (231) 775-9727. For live bait and accommodations on Lake Cadillac, contact Laura Lee's Landing at 1-800-899-6755.

WEST MICHIGAN DROWNED RIVER-MOUTH LAKES
"A lot of the drowned river-mouth lakes on the west side of the state have very good crappie populations," said DNR Muskegon field office fisheries biologist Rich O'Neil. "All of them are good-sized lakes, which crappies seem to do best in, and they're underfished. Not only do they have pretty decent numbers of crappies, but they are good-sized. I don't think that 14- or 15-inch crappies are all that uncommon in these lakes."

O'Neil said that anglers should find excellent spring crappie fishing on Mona, Muskegon, White and Pentwater lakes.

Muskegon County's Mona Lake is often overlooked by anglers headed to Muskegon Lake or lakes farther to the north. That could be a mistake. Mona Lake, at 695 acres, has a maximum depth of 42 feet and offers plenty of coves, bayous and weedlines that offer perfect crappie habitat. A series of coves along the northwest side of the lake are ideal spring crappie locations, as the shallow water there warms quickly and schools of specks collect there shortly after ice-out.

Another prime weedline is located on the north shore near Fritz's Bayou. Around several islands on the lake's east end is another good place to explore. Crappie fishing on Mona Lake usually gets hot right around April 1.

The main attractions on 4,150-acre Muskegon Lake are the plentiful walleyes, pike and bass. Anglers tend to ignore the lake's great spring crappie action. Crappies gravitate to the shallows right after ice-out in late March or early April. Look to the shallow weedbeds on the north side for early spring action. One of the best areas is right off from Muskegon State Park on the northwest side.

Finding piles of slab wood can often be key to locating schools of crappies. Try looking in the northeast corner where a channel connects Bear Lake to Muskegon Lake. Bear Lake is also worth checking out for specks in the spring.