Crappie

Woodlawn Park, Kentucky, while primarily residential, is close to several smaller lakes and ponds that can offer surprisingly good crappie fishing. These smaller, often overlooked, waters can hold some slab-sized crappie. Spring is undoubtedly the best time to target them, as they move into shallow, protected areas to spawn. Look for them around brush piles, submerged timber, and docks. Use small jigs or minnows suspended under a bobber. Summer can be tougher, but crappie will often congregate around deeper structure, such as submerged creek channels or bridge pilings. A local tip: many of these small lakes are best fished from a kayak or canoe, allowing you to access areas that are difficult to reach from shore. The crappie in these smaller lakes tend to be less pressured than those in larger reservoirs, so you might find them more willing to bite. Also, be mindful of the water clarity, as crappie tend to be more active in slightly stained water.