Crappie

If you're looking for slab-sized crappies in southern Minnesota, Green Isle offers some excellent opportunities. The area's many small lakes and ponds, often overlooked by larger boat traffic, hold surprisingly healthy populations of black crappie. Spring is prime time, as the crappies move into the shallows to spawn. Look for them near submerged timber, docks, and weed edges in water depths of 4-8 feet. A small jig tipped with a minnow or a crappie tube bait is a deadly combination. As the water warms into summer, crappies will move deeper, often suspending near structure. Try fishing with slip bobbers to target these suspended fish. A great access point is the public access on Lake Marion; it's a smaller lake but consistently produces good crappie numbers. Be aware that many of the lakes in the area are relatively shallow, so a fish finder can be invaluable for locating deeper pockets and submerged structure that crappies will relate to. Remember to check the MN DNR regulations for size and bag limits before you head out.