Crappie

Crappie fishing near International Falls can be incredibly rewarding, especially if you know where to look. The key is to target the many smaller lakes and backwaters connected to the Rainy River system. These areas often hold abundant Crappie populations due to the ample weed growth and shallow, protected waters. Spring, just after ice-out, is prime time, as the Crappie move into the shallows to spawn. Early morning and late evening are often the most productive. A local tip is to focus on submerged timber or weed beds in 6-10 feet of water, using small jigs or minnows suspended under a bobber. Be prepared for varying water clarity; stained water can often be more productive. The Crappie here tend to run a bit smaller than in southern Minnesota, but what they lack in size, they make up for in numbers. Exploring the smaller, less-pressured lakes can lead to some truly memorable days on the water.