Crappie

If you're looking to fill your cooler with crappie, Crystal Springs, Mississippi, offers some excellent freshwater opportunities. The key here is targeting the right structure in the local lakes and oxbows. Spring is prime time, as crappie move into the shallows to spawn. Look for submerged timber, brush piles, and creek channels near spawning areas. A simple jig tipped with a minnow or a small crankbait can be deadly. As the water warms, crappie will retreat to deeper water, so adjust your tactics accordingly. Local tip: The Pearl River system, easily accessible from Crystal Springs, can be a crappie hotspot, especially around submerged structure. Be sure to check water levels and river conditions before heading out, as heavy rains can impact fishing. The crappie in this area tend to be good-sized, but be prepared to sort through some smaller fish to find the slabs.