Crappie

If you're heading to Kelseyville, California, with crappie on your mind, Clear Lake is your destination. This lake is renowned for its healthy crappie population, thanks to abundant forage. Spring is prime time, as crappie move shallow to spawn in the tules and around submerged structure. Look for pre-spawn staging areas in deeper water adjacent to these spawning grounds. During summer, they'll retreat to deeper, cooler areas, often suspending near submerged trees or docks. Fall can be productive as they feed up before winter. A local tip: Clear Lake can get windy, especially in the afternoons, so plan accordingly and consider fishing early or late in the day. Also, pay attention to water clarity; crappie can be finicky in very clear water, so slightly stained areas can be more productive. Adjust your jig depth frequently to locate active fish.