Crappie

If you're after crappie near Long Grove, Illinois, focus your efforts on the sloughs and backwaters connected to the Des Plaines River, as well as local ponds. These areas provide the shallow, vegetated habitat that crappie love. Spring, during the pre-spawn and spawn, is undoubtedly the best time to target them. Look for submerged timber, brush piles, and weed edges in 5-10 feet of water. Small jigs and minnows are the go-to baits. A practical piece of advice: use a bobber to suspend your bait just above the cover. The crappie population in this area can be cyclical, with some years being better than others, but generally, you can expect to find both black and white crappie. Check local fishing reports for the most up-to-date information on crappie activity. Be mindful of any size and creel limits in effect.