Crappie

Crappie fishing near East Prairie can be excellent, especially in the numerous oxbow lakes and sloughs that dot the landscape. These backwater areas provide ideal habitat for crappie, with plenty of submerged structure and shallow, weedy areas. The spring spawn (March-April) is the prime time, as crappie congregate in the shallows to reproduce. Minnows and small jigs fished under a bobber are classic and effective techniques. A local tip is to explore the backwaters accessible from the Mississippi River during periods of stable water levels. Look for areas with submerged brush piles or standing timber, as crappie tend to school around these structures. The crappie in this region can be quite large, with some slabs reaching well over a pound.