Crappie

Crappie fishing around Mannsville, NY, can be quite productive if you know where to look. While not as widely known as the bass fishery, several smaller lakes and ponds in the region hold decent populations of crappie. Spring is undoubtedly the best time to target them, as they move into shallow, weedy areas to spawn. Look for submerged brush piles or fallen trees, as these are crappie magnets. The Black River offers some crappie fishing opportunities, particularly in the slower-moving sections and backwaters. A small boat or kayak is ideal for accessing these areas. Local tip: Many anglers have success using small jigs tipped with minnows or crappie nibbles under a bobber. Be patient and experiment with different depths until you find the fish. The crappie in this region tend to run a bit smaller than in some other parts of the state, but what they lack in size, they make up for in numbers.