Crappie

Crappie fishing around Cornelia, Georgia, is best pursued on nearby Lake Russell and Lake Hartwell. These large reservoirs hold healthy populations of both black and white crappie. Spring is the peak season, as crappie move into shallow coves and around submerged structure to spawn. Look for them near brush piles, docks, and fallen trees in 5-10 feet of water. Minnows and jigs are the go-to baits. During the summer months, crappie tend to move deeper, so try fishing around submerged timber and bridge pilings. For Lake Hartwell, the Tugaloo State Park ramp provides good access to productive crappie areas. A useful local tip is to use a fish finder to locate schools of crappie before dropping your line. These lakes see a fair amount of fishing pressure, so experiment with different jig colors and presentations to find what the crappie are biting on that day.