Crappie

If you're looking for some slab-sided crappie action in Western New York, Perry is a great starting point. Silver Lake, just west of town, is known for its healthy crappie population. Focus your efforts around submerged structure like fallen trees and weed edges, especially in the northern part of the lake where the water tends to be a bit shallower. Spring is prime time, as the crappie move into the shallows to spawn. As the water warms into summer, they'll retreat to deeper, cooler water near the lake's center. Small jigs tipped with minnows or crappie nibbles are your best bet. A local tip: the Silver Lake Institute on the east side of the lake provides some public access and is a good place to launch a small boat or kayak. Be aware that Silver Lake can get weedy in the summer, so a weedless presentation is often necessary. The crappie in Silver Lake tend to run on the smaller side, but what they lack in size, they make up for in numbers, offering consistent action.