Hamlin Lake, at 5,000 acres, is basically two lakes in one. The upper lake is shallow and weedy, while the lower lake tends to be much deeper, and has a lot of structure. Big crappies can be found in both parts depending on the time of year.

One of the best locations to look for early spring crappies is in one of the bayous located along the east shoreline of the lower lake. South, Middle and North bayous are shallow, sheltered and warm quickly in the spring. North Bayou is filled with stumps and is open to the main lake. Hopping a jig or tossing a shiner minnow next to the stumps is a good tactic for crappies there. The Middle and South bayous are connected to the main lake by a tunnel. The Middle Bayou has many stumps, whereas the South Bayou has more emergent weeds. Both spots are good for specks through May.

Anglers do well by drifting with bobbers and jigs or minnows along the old river channel in the upper lake between Wilson Park and Victory Park. Locate 8 or 9 feet of water and put your bait down about 6 feet. Limits of 10- to 12-inch papermouths are common. Later in the summer, crappies will suspend along the dropoff near The Narrows and off Ludington State Park.

For fishing reports, live bait and boat rentals, contact North Bayou Resort at 1-800-261-7415, or online at NBayouResort.com.

PERE MARQUETTE LAKE
Pere Marquette Lake has that dark tannic-stained look that crappies love. Add to that the many old slab docks, pilings, weeds and seawalls, and you have all the makings of a topnotch crappie lake.

This Mason County lake sees surprisingly little fishing pressure other than during the fall salmon and steelhead runs. Only occasionally will you see anyone fishing the lake. PM Lake's slab crappies are a secret that's shared by few anglers.

Early spring finds slabs up to 16 inches packed into the shallow reeds and bulrushes found on the south end. The crappies collect there right after ice-out to chase schools of minnows and to spawn. The papermouths stay through May. Expect a lot of crappies from 10 to 12 inches and larger. Use a slip-bobber and a small jig tipped with a minnow. Work the bobber through the reeds while allowing the jig to fall when it reaches an opening in the vegetation.

Late in the spring and summer, schools of crappies take up residence around the myriad of structure that the lake affords. Probe around the old slab docks on the west side of the lake, near the old pilings and slab docks off Peter Copeyan Park and the Ludington Yacht Club, and behind the car ferry. Try along the docks in the marinas, too. Jigs and minnows are deadly combinations.

For information on bait shops, public access and accommodations in the area, contact the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-542-4600, or online at Ludingtoncvb.com.

SILVER LAKE
Oceana County's Silver Lake is a relatively structureless lake with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Silver Lake has been heavily stocked with walleyes in recent years, but as weed growth has increased, panfish populations have flourished, too, and especially the crappies.

A hotspot for papermouths just after ice-out on Silver Lake is right off Hunter Creek on the east side of the lake. Pre-spawn specks are attracted to the creek's outflow. Crappies up to 14 inches aren't uncommon. The crappies also work their way up the creek into the channel that averages 4 or 5 feet deep.