Crappie

Targeting crappie near Santa Clara? While not a renowned crappie destination, the South Bay offers some surprisingly good opportunities in local reservoirs and sloughs connected to the Delta. Calero Reservoir and Lexington Reservoir, though primarily known for bass, hold decent populations of crappie, especially around submerged structure and weed beds. Spring is prime time, as crappie move shallow to spawn, but fall can also be productive as they school up before winter. Try small jigs under a bobber near submerged trees or docks. Minnows are a classic bait, but scented plastic trailers can also produce. Access to Calero is good with a boat launch, but Lexington can be tougher without a boat; shoreline access is limited. Check water levels before you go, as low water can concentrate the fish but also make navigation tricky. Look for stained water, as crappie prefer it to clear water, and be prepared to move around to find the schools.