For bait, tackle and lake maps, contact D & R Sports Center online at www.dandrsports.com, or call 1-800-992-1520.

THORNAPPLE LAKE
"Thornapple Lake has some very good crappie habitat," stated Smith. "It's not really a lake at all, just a wide section of the river. Crappies in the 10- to 12-inch size range are common, up to about 14 inches. The muskies, pike and walleyes tend to thin out the small fish. There are probably more crappies as far as numbers in Thornapple Lake than any other inland lake in our area."

Although it's just a wide spot in the river, Thornapple Lake resembles an impoundment, with a lot of stumps, logs, laydowns and other structure. That's where you'll want to look for crappies in the spring.

A good location is right off the boat launch on the east end in 5 to 10 feet of water. Another hotspot is off the mouth of Mud Creek. Either side of Howard's Point near the center of the lake is a potential crappie factory. Also try anywhere you see stumps adjacent to shallow water and weedlines. A good way to cover water is with a twister-tailed jig. Once you find the schools, you can work them over with a bobber and minnows.

For more information on Thornapple Lake's spring specks, contact Bob's Gun Shop at (269) 945-4106.

TITTABAWASSEE RIVER IMPOUNDMENTS
"If you're after crappies in any of the Tittabawassee River impoundments, spring is a really good time to go," said Southern Lake Huron fisheries biologist Kathrin Schrouder. "The back bays of these impoundments warm up quicker than the rest of the lake, and that's where you'll find crappies. Wixom Lake is probably the best in the chain, but Sanford is also good."

Both Wixom and Sanford lakes have ideal crappie habitat -- that turbid, murky, strained water with a lot of stumps, wood and other structure. Both lakes have plenty of crappie forage, too. Minnows, young-of-the year white bass, shiners and insects provide the fish with a smorgasbord. Schrouder pointed out that crappies are pretty adaptable when it comes to food.

The impoundments of the Tittabawassee are unique in that they contain both white and black crappies, and they will hybridize. Some of the biggest specimens are hybrids. Crappies in the 17-inch range have been taken from both Sanford and Wixom, but a more typical speck from these waters will measure 10 to 13 inches.

Wixom Lake covers some 1,980 acres and is a maze of flooded stumps and downed trees that crappies love. The two arms of the lake formed by the Tittabawassee and Tobacco rivers both have many coves, drains and inlets that can be crappie magnets in the spring. Try the mouth of these and anywhere you see stumps and timber.

There is a state-owned launch off the east shore off Dundas Road.

Sanford Lake produces spring crappie action similar to Wixom's. Sanford, at 1,250 acres, doesn't have as many creeks, cuts or drains entering it, so the few that do are usually pretty productive. Locals often refer to these bays and cuts as "fills" because many were created by dredging. Sanford also tends to run much shallower than Wixom, so the crappies can be more scattered.

For bait, tackle and information on Wixom and Sanford crappies, call Sanford Sport Shop at (989) 687-5161.

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Cheer up! Spring crappie fishing is just around the corner.