By Mike Gnatkowski

Michigan winters can be cold, long drawn-out affairs. Residents who forego the southern sun and endure the wintry conditions look forward with great anticipation to certain rites of spring that indicates that the prolonged ordeal might be finally coming to an end. The first robin in the yard is a sure sign that spring is right around the corner. Skeins of geese headed north indicate that the ice will soon be melting off area lakes. When it does, crappies will be schooling in the shallows. That's a definite sign that spring is here. Hallelujah!

Crappies are one of the first fish to spawn in the spring. Big specks will be inching toward the shallows under last ice. Once the ice leaves, crappies will begin stacking up in shallow dark-bottomed bays prior to spawning. The dark bottom soaks up precious sunlight and warms more quickly than the rest of the lake. Pre-spawn crappies gravitate toward the tepid water.

Sunlight and the warming shallows also jumpstart the food chain. Aquatic insects become more active as water temperatures rise. Minnows invade the shallows in search of the bugs, and crappies aren't far behind. It's a predictable cycle that anglers can take advantage of.

Following is a selection of spring crappies waters that produce the type of action that is a sure cure for cabin fever.

While all of the Huron River impoundments offer good crappies fishing, the fishing differs on each one.

"Belleville Lake is probably the best for numbers and moderately-sized fish," claimed Braunscheidel. "You can expect to catch a lot of crappies n the 9- to 10-inch range in Belleville. There are bigger fish available though, and you'll catch both black and white crappies."

Belleville Lake covers some 1,270 acres in both Wayne and Washtenaw counties southeast of Ypsilanti. The impoundment features a sinuous river channel that averages 10 to 20 feet deep with adjacent flats, cuts and bays that are loaded with stumps and downed timber that attract spring crappies. Look for big schools of specks to move into south-facing coves and shallows where the wood and dark bottom absorb the sun's warm rays. Braunscheidel indicated that all of the Huron River impoundments have an abundance of minnows and shiners that crappies thrive on.

Access to Belleville Lake is limited. Boaters can gain access at a launch off Huron River Drive on the south side of the lake. A new access off Rawsonville Road on the lake's west end should be complete by this spring. Bank-anglers can access the lake at a fishing park near the dam or at Edison Park.

Crappie populations tend to be cyclic in nature, but right now Houghton County's Otter Lake is booming. Photo by Mike Gnatkowski

For live bait, maps and fishing information on Belleville Lake, contact Bass-N-Sport at (734) 485-2355.

Ford Lake, at 975 acres, is another Huron River impoundment that produces outstanding crappie fishing.

"Ford Lake is another good one for crappies," said Braunscheidel. "The crappies population has been down in Ford Lake in recent years. We don't really know why, but it still produces some very nice crappies."

Located in east-central Washtenaw County, Ford Lake routinely gives up crappies that will top 14 inches. Unlike Belleville Lake, Ford Lake doesn't have a well-defined river channel running though it or a lot of woody debris. Because of this, crappies tend to be more scattered on Ford Lake. In the spring, look for crappies to concentrate in the shallower west end of the lake off points, near the islands, around emerging weedbeds and in the back of bays. You can launch your boat on Ford Lake at an access off Huron River Drive.

Minnows are a hands-down favorite wherever crappies are found and that is true on Ford Lake. Equally productive are tube jigs and safety-pin-type spinners that imitate their favorite fodder.

Then there's Kent Lake.

"You're not going to find a lot of huge crappies in Kent Lake," said Braunscheidel, "but what you will find is a lot eatin'-sized crappies." Expect to catch plenty of specks in the 8- to 10-inch range from Kent.

Located off Interstate 96 in Oakland County, 1000-acre Kent Lake is within Kensington Metropark. Because of its easy access and popularity with anglers, it sees a lot of fishing pressure. Springtime is one of the best times to fish it when its abundant crappies are concentrated in the myriad of coves, channels and bays that exemplify the lake, and fishing pressure is at a minimum.

Shore-anglers will find plenty of access, particularly on the north side of the lake. Stop by the park office to get information on designated fishing areas and other areas that provide access. There are two boat launches on Kent Lake, one on the west side and another on the southeast corner.

Contact the Kensington Metropark office at 1-800-477-3178 for information on park hours, launch fees and restrictions. There is a 10 mph speed limit on Kent Lake, which makes it the perfect place to spend a quiet, sunny spring day filling a bucket with crappies.

Located just north of Ann Arbor on the border of Washtenaw and Livingston counties, 677-acre Whitmore Lake is close to a lot of anglers and receives a lot of fishing pressure. But in spite of the pressure, Whitmore Lake routinely gives up stringers of spring crappies, many of which will push 12 to 14 inches.

In the spring, look for weedbeds in 5 to 15 feet of water. Wear polarized glasses to spot schools of suspended crappies. Big specks can be found just about anywhere on Whitmore, but pay special attention to indentations in the shoreline, docks and points. Suspending a tube jig below a slip-bobber is a proven combination. White, yellow and chartreuse are the best colors.

Contact the Ann Arbor Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-888-9487 or on the Web at www.annarbor.org for information on bait shops and lodging facilities in the area.