Dean Shippey of Eaton Rapids, Mich., hefts a Sanford Dam crappie. Photo by Kenny Darwin.

When spring crappies go on a feeding spree the action can be fast-paced and there is no better way to enjoy the arrival of warm spring weather than spending time on your favorite waterway catching tasty panfish. But the boom-and-bust nature of crappie populations can keep you looking for new hotspots and unless you want to leave success to chance, knowing where there is productive fishing is the critical key to success.

I grew up catching bass and panfish on the Tittabawassee system below the Sanford Dam and Wixom Lake spillway using a cane pole, bobber and plain hook threaded with an earthworm dug from Grandma's garden. Back then, the fishing was easy and stringers filled fast. The same holds true today, although the tackle I prefer is an ultralight spinning outfit, custom float that is extra sensitive and fluorocarbon line tipped with a tiny jig.

Here's a rundown of productive crappie waters across the state where you can enjoy the fishing fun with family and friends in spring 2009.

SANFORD LAKE AND DAMS
According to fisheries biologist Jim Baker, there is good public access, and you can drive to the dam through the new Sanford Park and schools of big fish are waiting to be caught.

"There are good numbers of crappies available below the Sanford Dam, and in Sanford Lake and you can catch them from shore or boat," Baker said. "Anglers can target schools of slab crappies in the deep swirling water below the Sanford Dam in early spring and even better fishing is available below the Wixom spillways as spawning fish swim upriver from Sanford Lake through the Tittabawassee system and congregate below the manmade structures. Anglers can reach the spillways by parking along M-30 and walking to the dam. The east dam is larger and holds more crappies when spring rain brings spawning runs. The west spillway can be quite shallow until melting ice and snow along with rain causes the water to flow over the concrete structure and draw crappies from below."

Fisheries biologist Kathrin Schrouder recommends hitting the Sanford Dam or Wixom spillway early in the season when spring runoff cause crappies to charge upriver. Then try the shallows in Sanford or Wixom lakes and concentrate efforts around fallen trees, sunken logs, points and any structure that provides spawning habitat for spring crappies. When water temperatures increase, move to the main impoundment and work the channel edges.

"The last fisheries survey found that crappies averaged more than 8 inches, and plenty of slabs topped the 1-foot mark," Schrouder explained.

There is a public boat launch at the Sanford Dam. Use the public access boat launch on Dundas Road for Wixom Lake. Wixom Lake is around 2,000 acres in Gladwin County near the small town of Edenville. For more information, contact the Southern Lake Huron Management Unit office in Bay City at (989) 684-9141, or the Gladwin Chamber of Commerce at www.gladwincountychamber.com.

SESSIONS LAKE
"The most recent DNR fisheries survey showed crappies were both numerous and large in Sessions Lake with nearly 35 percent of the catch in the 11-inch size range," said fisheries biologist Amy Harrington. "Plenty of fish were smaller, indicating strong year-classes are on their way up and should provide good fishing in the future."

Jordan Conner, a well-known local pro who fishes Sessions, describes last year's fishing as very good.

"The reservoir was standing trees at one time and there are still lots of dead trees and stumps that crappies love. The fishing was so good last spring that you could catch your limit in less than an hour and folks were consistently taking 12-inch slabs."