Union is famous for producing big catches of bluegills, walleyes and bass. Its big crappies are overlooked. Anglers take platter-sized papermouths that regularly top 14 inches.

Oakland County's 465-acre Union Lake is deep, with one hole topping 100 feet, but it also has several humps to rise to within 10 feet of the surface. That's where you want to begin your search for spring crappies. Try the south and east sides of the lake. Minnows are always a good bet when it comes to Union Lake crappies, but you can interest a smorgasbord of panfish by using teardrops and ice flies baited with wax worms.

For maps, live bait and fishing information, contact KD Outdoors at (248) 666-7799.

"Lake St. Clair has a pretty good crappies population, but they tend to be really spread out," said Braunscheidel. "The one time when they really concentrate is in the spring. Then they school up in the marinas and canals. Another good location is the St. John's Marsh."

Braunscheidel said that the entire east side of Anchor Bay is a myriad of shallow bays, canals and coves that crappies stack up in from mid-March through May. Big black crappies topping 16 inches aren't unheard of.

Look for spring crappies to crowd into the shallows in Bouvier Bay, Scotten Bay, Pollet Bay, Fisher Bay, Goose Bay and Big and Little Muscamoot bays. Canals and channels that bisect Dickinson and Harsens islands are ideal spring crappies haunts. You can catch the big specks on just about anything you want - live bait, plastic and micro crankbaits.

For detailed maps, fishing information and bait, contact Lakeside Fishing Shop at (586) 777-7003 or on the Web at www.lakesidefishingshop.com.

Stony Creek Impoundment, at 489 acres, is located in west-central Macomb County north of Rochester. The impoundment empties into the Clinton River and is maintained by the Lakeville Lake Dam. Fishing, boating and other activities are overseen by the Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority. You can reach the Stony Creek Metropark office at (586) 781-4242.

Much of Stony Creek Impoundment is quite shallow. The impoundment reaches 25 feet near the South Dam, but the rest of the lake averages 5 to 15 feet. Because of this, spring crappies can be found just about anywhere. Two spring hotspots are near old fish shelters west of the boat launch on the south side of the lake and off Eastwood Beach. Otherwise, look for locations where hard bottom areas intersect weed edges.

Randall Lake, at 513 acres, is actually composed of three separate basins collectively referred to as Randall Lake. The other two are North and Cemetery lakes. All feature clean, clear water, extensive weed growth and plenty of crappie forage. Fed by the Coldwater River, the chain is located in central Branch County near Coldwater.

Spring crappies on Randall Lake can be found along the copious points, weedlines and coves that characterize the lake. Most anglers use a run-and-gun approach covering a lot of water as thoroughly as possible until they make contact with an active school of fish. Many crappie addicts use small jigs and tubes that allow them to fish quickly without re-baiting all the time. Some of the best action is along the north side of Randall Lake where the spring sun warms the shallows beginning right after ice-out in March. Most of the specks will average 10 inches, but crappies topping 16 inches aren't unheard of.

For information on lodging and bait shops in the area, contact the Branch County Tourism Bureau at 1-800-968-9333 or online at www.discover-michigan.com.

Duck Lake is about eight miles north of Albion in northeast Calhoun County. Although the lake is largely developed, its marshy shoreline and adjacent weedbeds make it a natural for big, spring crappies. Some of the best ice-out action takes place on the very north end of the lake where shallow, expansive flats attract pre-spawn papermouths. The sunken island in the center of the lake is a good location, too. When weeds get too thick, the deeper south end of the lake is a better bet. Try swimming a minnow-tipped jig over the shallow weeds or anchor and probe the weed edges using a slip-bobber and minnow.

There is a public boat launch located on the northwest side of the lake. For more information on spring crappie opportunities on Duck Lake, contact the Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit at (269) 685-6851.

"There are a lot of crappie lakes over in Schoolcraft County," said Eastern Lake Superior Management Unit biologist Jim Waybrant. "The lakes over there seem to be more fertile or warmer and tend to produce better fishing for species like crappies. We just don't have much in the way of crappies in the eastern U.P."

Colwell Lake, at 158 acres, is just one of several smaller lakes located in western Schoolcraft County that produce excellent spring crappie action. Take M-94 north of Manistique and you'll find a crappie highway to heaven. Colwell Lake's current hot crappie action occurred by accident.

"We tried to do a chemical treatment a few years ago and because of a variety of conditions we killed off more of the panfish than we intended," admitted Waybrant. "Now Colwell Lake is coming back big time and there are some very good-sized crappies in it."

Many of the specks from Colwell will top a foot long. The hottest fishing typically occurs in early June.

For more information on crappie lakes within the Hiawatha National Forest, contact the USFS District Ranger office in Manistique at (906) 341-5666.

"Otter Lake is one that comes to mind when you talk about big crappies," said Western Lake Superior Management Unit fisheries biologist Vern Nurenberg. "Crappies are kind of cyclic and right now the population in Otter Lake is high. You'll find a lot of fish in the 10- to 14-inch range."

Located in central Houghton County, 890-acre Otter Lake is formed by the Otter River, which flows in and out of the lake. A lowhead dam creates the impoundment. Anglers can access the lake on the northeast side or at a boat launch on the west side of the lake. Ice-out produces hot crappie action where the Otter River enters the lake. Ice-out in the Great White North might mean mid-May.

For information on bait shops and lodging facilities in the area, contact the Western Upper Peninsula Convention & Visitors Bureau at (906) 932-4850 or online at www.westernup.com.

"A lot of people just don't target crappies up here," said Nurenberg. "The crappies on King Lake are similar in size to those in Otter Lake."

King Lake, at 508 acres, is relatively shallow, with few spots over 15 feet deep, which makes it all perfect crappie habitat. Even though King Lake is shallow, weeds are scarce and finding scattered weedbeds is key to locating concentrations of crappies. If there is wood in the vicinity, it can be a real hotspot. Try out from the boat launch on the north end of the lake near a cluster of islands there. Another potential crappie hole is near the inlet from Little King Lake on the lake's east side. Coves and bays along the west and south shore are good, too. The best fishing occurs in late spring and early summer.

For more information about Western U.P. crappie lakes, contact the DNR's Western Lake Superior Management Unit at (906) 353-6651.

After a long, hard Michigan winter, spring can't come soon enough, especially if it means catching a stringer of big crappies!