Crappie

Deerwood, Minnesota, is a crappie angler's paradise, with numerous lakes offering excellent slab-sized crappies. The interconnected lake system provides diverse habitat, from shallow weedy bays to deeper, structure-filled basins. Spring, during the pre-spawn and spawn, is the peak season, when crappies congregate in shallow water near vegetation. However, they can also be targeted throughout the summer and fall by locating submerged timber or weed edges in deeper water. A local tip is to use a slip bobber with a small jig tipped with a minnow or crappie nibble. Pay attention to water clarity, as crappies tend to prefer slightly stained water. Public access is generally good, with boat ramps available on most of the larger lakes. The crappie population in the Deerwood area is healthy, with a good mix of sizes. Expect to catch plenty of fish in the 9-12 inch range, with the chance of landing a few exceeding 14 inches.