Crappie

If you're chasing crappie near the Twin Cities, Ham Lake offers a decent option, though you'll need to do some exploring. Focus on the smaller, interconnected lakes and backwaters off the main body of Ham Lake. These areas often hold good populations of crappie, especially during the pre-spawn and spawn periods (late April-May). Look for submerged timber, weed edges, and brush piles. Minnows suspended under a bobber are a classic and effective technique. A local trick is to use a small ice fishing jig tipped with a waxworm, even in open water. The crappie in this area tend to be cyclical in terms of size; some years produce more slabs than others. Early ice fishing can also be productive, but always check ice conditions thoroughly. Be prepared to move around to find the actively feeding schools.