Anglers need not worry too much about effects of last year's influx of heavy rains from the hurricanes on reservoir crappie fishing. More concern should be focused on a combination of consistent rains and cold weather. Churchill said so far, their assessments of the 2005 year-class suggest it was not outstanding, but the hurricanes likely had limited, if any, effect.

At this point, anglers should not expect any crappie regulation change in 2005. Churchill said the agency believes size limits and creel limits are working. The minimum length limit has done much to limit over-fishing of stocks that have cyclic year class strength. He said they buffer the effects of overharvest during down years for the populations. This is very important in maintaining spawning stocks in largely meat fisheries.

From what we've seen based on success rates and popularity, a closer look at Kentucky, Reelfoot, Douglas, Barkley and Priest is in order.

KENTUCKY LAKE
Duck hunting and bass fishing are important areas in guide Garry Mason's life, but he's no stranger to crappie fishing, either. He likes the trolling the summer months offer, but said without a doubt the time to be on Kentucky Lake for superb crappie fishing is from mid-March through mid-April for the pre-spawn run.

The weather plays a key role during this four-week period of prime crappie fishing. Mason said on Kentucky Lake the wind can keep you off the water, but when it cooperates, the most productive crappie days are those with sunny or partly sunny conditions.

During this time of year, crappie can move from the 12- to 18-foot depth range on up to as shallow as 2 feet. Mason said you'll want to follow them on their pre-spawn migratory routes as they move in to spawn. Find them first in deeper areas off brushpiles and manmade stakebeds. As they move in, search out staging crappie off points and submerged stumps.

"If size matters, this is the place to be," Mason said. He also said that anglers shouldn't expect limits of 30 crappie every day on Kentucky Lake. You can and will sometimes catch limits, but often you don't. Numbers, however, aren't a critical factor when you're catching crappie over 2 pounds consistently.

Mason takes advantage of spring crappie with 2-inch Charlie Brewer Slider Grubs fished on 1/16-ounce ball-type jigheads. He employs a 7-foot spinning rod and 6-pound-test line to complete the crappie combination. Mason said anglers can catch slabs by casting to structure and counting the grub down to where they're holding. He said to bring the lure back with a slow retrieve just above the stakebed or other structure, because crappie will come up to take bait, but won't go down for it.

REELFOOT LAKE
For two or more weeks in April, anglers will pound the shoreline for Reelfoot's bountiful crappie. They'll catch them at other times of the year, but guide Jackie Van Cleave said the peak period almost always falls around mid-April and that's fishing you don't want to miss. A water temperature of 60 degrees will get them fired up, and from there, it's up to you.

"They'll spawn on anything they can stick their eggs to," Van Cleave said. In April, you'll find him peddling his baits along stumps and logs, as well as trees and grass lines. All those structures will hold pre-spawn crappie, but the veteran guide said stumps and logs are best. Big, hollow shell stumps are the top structure. The crappie can be found in 4- to 12-foot depth ranges.