Crappie

Grandin, Missouri, offers some excellent crappie fishing opportunities, particularly in the spring and fall. The many small lakes and ponds in the surrounding Ozark foothills are often overlooked but can hold surprisingly large populations of crappie. Clearwater Lake, a short drive away, is a popular destination. During the spring spawn (late March-April), target shallow, brushy areas and submerged timber with jigs or minnows under a bobber. In the fall, crappie tend to move deeper, so try fishing around submerged structure and creek channels. A local tip: many of the smaller, less-known ponds are accessible via gravel roads, but be sure to check road conditions after heavy rains. The crappie here are known to be aggressive, and you might even find some slab-sized fish if you know where to look.