Crappie

If you're looking for crappie near Carol Stream, Illinois, you'll want to focus your attention on the numerous smaller lakes and ponds scattered throughout the DuPage County Forest Preserves. These waters, often overlooked, can hold surprisingly healthy populations of crappie. Spring is prime time, as the fish move into the shallows to spawn, making them easier to target with jigs and minnows under a bobber. Fall is another excellent period when crappie school up before winter. A local tip: check out Mallard Lake; it has good bank access and a reputation for holding decent-sized crappie. Be mindful of depth changes and submerged structure, as crappie love to congregate around these areas. The crappie here aren't giants, but a patient angler can easily put together a worthwhile stringer for a delicious fish fry.