Crappie

Third Lake offers decent crappie fishing, particularly around submerged structure and weed beds. Spring is prime time as crappie move into the shallows to spawn, congregating near docks, brush piles, and any available cover. Use small jigs tipped with minnows or waxworms under a bobber, or try slowly retrieving small crankbaits through areas with submerged vegetation. As the water warms in summer, crappie tend to move deeper, so focus your efforts around deeper structure or drop-offs. Fall can also be productive as crappie feed up before winter. Access to Third Lake is primarily through the Third Lake Village Park, where there is a boat ramp and ample shoreline access. Keep an eye on the wind, as Third Lake can get choppy quickly, and be respectful of private property along the shoreline. The crappie in Third Lake tend to be on the smaller side, but what they lack in size, they make up for in numbers, providing plenty of action for anglers of all skill levels.