Later in the late spring and summer, crappies can be found relating to the defined weedline that develops in the 10- to 20-foot depths. The slabs can be found suspended then. Use a bobber suspending a jig or minnow. Tiny crankbaits and Beetle Spins take some of the biggest fish.

For more information, contact Pere Marquette Sport Center in Ludington at (231) 843-8676. Camping is available at Silver Lake State Park.

FREMONT LAKE
Fishing on Newaygo County's Fremont Lake has improved dramatically for a number of species.

One reason for this is the better pollution controls that have improved discharges from septic tanks and industrial waste. With better water quality, fishing opportunities have blossomed on Fremont Lake, especially for crappies. Fremont Lake is intensively managed for walleyes, but other species like papermouths have also responded.

"Most anglers fish for walleyes and perch on Fremont Lake," claimed DNR fisheries biologist Rich O'Neil, "but there are definitely plenty of crappies in the lake, and people don't really fish for them. Fremont is good overall for panfish."

O'Neil said you won't find too many giant crappies in Fremont Lake, but specks in the 10- to 12-inch range are common.

One hotspot for spring crappies on Fremont is right out from the boat launch on the south side of the lake. A dark bottom, marshy habitat and warming water draws crappies to this area shortly after ice-out. The bays and shallows all along the east side of the lake can be good, too. Later in the year, look for crappies to suspend off structure and weedlines found on the northwest side of the lake in 15 to 25 feet.

For maps, fishing reports and live bait, contact Backwoods Sport Shop in Fremont at (231) 924-5562.

CROTON DAM & HARDY DAM PONDS
Impoundments typically have good crappie habitat. That's very true of Croton Dam Pond and Hardy Dam Pond. As impoundments of the Muskegon River, both bodies of water feature plenty of logs, stumps and laydowns, plus deep water and fertile shallows -- and a lot of forage.

"The main emphasis on both Croton and Hardy is walleyes, perch and smallmouths," O'Neil said, "but both have decent populations of crappies that people really don't fish for."

Hardy Dam Pond is the biggest of the two. It spans some 18 miles, has 3,750 acres and depths approaching 110 feet. The pond's graceful bends, cuts, islands and coves are great places to prospect for spring crappies. Look for south-facing coves and bays that have feeder creeks running into them. Work the stumps and other structure there until you make contact. When you do, you'll often find big schools of 10- to 12-inch specks. Use twister-tailed jigs, grubs, marabou jigs or minnows, which can be fished "clean" or on a jig. There are five boat launches on Hardy Pond.

Croton Dam Pond offers similar opportunities forcrappies. Not as deep as Hardy Dam Pond, Croton features plenty of bays, stumps and structures where you're likely to find spring crappies. The Little Muskegon arm of the pond has some particularly good crappie habitat. Look for the warmest water you can find in the spring adjacent to structure. Later in the year, crappies will suspend near the old river channel. Use your electronics to locate schools of crappies and set up a drift to target them. Most fish will average 9 to 12 inches. There are two boat launches on Croton Pond near the dam.