Crappie

If you're looking for some slab-sized crappie in western Kentucky, Hartford is a great place to start. The Ohio River and its backwaters, along with nearby Rough River Lake, offer excellent crappie habitat. Focus your efforts around submerged timber, brush piles, and bridge pilings. Spring is prime time, as crappie move shallow to spawn. Fall can also be productive as they feed up before winter. For Rough River Lake, the area around the dam is known to hold good numbers of crappie. A local tip: minnows under a bobber are always a good bet, but don't overlook small jigs tipped with plastic trailers. The crappie in this area tend to be good-sized, so be prepared for a fun fight. Remember to check the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for creel limits and size restrictions.