Crappie

If you're looking for a classic Kansas crappie experience, Bison offers a few under-the-radar spots worth exploring. While not a large town, its proximity to smaller lakes and ponds makes it a good base. The best time to target crappie here is during the spring spawn (April-May) when they move into the shallows to nest. Look for submerged timber, brush piles, and weed beds in these smaller bodies of water; crappie love to congregate around structure. A simple jig tipped with a minnow or a small tube bait is often all you need. In the fall, as the water cools, crappie will school up again before winter, so don't count out October and November. A local tip: many of the smaller lakes are on private land, so always ask for permission before fishing. Also, pay attention to wind direction – crappie often stack up on the windward side of the lake.