Crappie Fishing in Illinois
Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few. Biologists classify the many varieties of this specie into two main categories. Both have been introduced in many waters both north and south and they tend to adapt to most environments.

Black Crappie - (Promoxis nigro-maculatus)
The black crappie is darker, has seven or eight dorsal spines, has spotted sides and is typically found more in the northern states. The black prefers larger, deeper impoundments.

White Crappie - (Promoxis annularis)
The white crappie which is light in color, has six dorsal spines, has eight or nine vertical bands on its sides and is found primarily in the southern states and prefers quiet backwaters.

Both the black and white crappie grow to over five pounds while three quarters of a pound to a pound is more typical.

Fishing for Crappies
Crappie are school fish and can be caught by still-fishing, casting, trolling or drifting. Spring is the best time to catch crappie as they are involved in their spawning runs. They love cover, so locate brush, stumps or artificial cover at appropriate depths and you are likely to find crappie. Use live bait, a crappie jig or a small crappie lure. At dawn you may find them close to the surface. As the sun hits the water they drop to 5 or 10 feet deep depending on water clarity. As the sun gets higher in the sky they may retreat to deeper water, 25 feet or more. When the sun begins to set they will move back up to the shallows and finish the day at the surface as dusk turns to darkness. Typically they return to deeper water for the night and may occasionally do some feeding during the dark hours.

Baits which imitate minnows, insects, worms or small crustaceans will attract crappie. The more aggressive the crappie are, the faster you can move the bait to cover more water.

SPRING
Top Baits: Live Bait, Crappie Jigs & Spinners.

Fish shallow to moderate depths as the crappie move into the shallows for warmer water to begin spawning. Their primary food source is minnows and small crayfish. Try slow drifting and slow moving baits until you catch a fish. Mark the spot and fish it thoroughly as you probably located a school of crappies.

SUMMER
Top Baits: Live Bait, Crappie Jigs and spoons.

Fish shallow in the mornings and evenings and move deeper as the sun rises. "Deep" depends on the overall depth of the lake you are fishing. In some lakes you may need to go as deep as 35 to 45 feet.

FALL
Top Baits: Live Bait, Crappie Jigs & Spinners.

Fish shallow to moderate depths in the mornings and evenings. As the crappie migrate deeper during the day move to outside deep structure and use spoons or jigs.

WINTER
Top Baits: Live Bait, Crappie Jigs & Small Worms.

Crappie tend to school deep and have less interest in feeding during the colder months. Deep for white crappie may be a little shallower than for black crappie which may drop as deep as 45 to 55 feet. They are sluggish in cold water, so move your bait very slowly around deep cover and structure. If you locate a deep school, be patient and work slowly.