Photo by Forrest Fisher Black crappie are the most common in Chautauqua Lake with many fish that will reach 14-15 inches. This one is 17-1/4 inches taken on a tube jig and bobber near Arnolds Bay.

Unforgettable knee-high boot adventures are about to begin for young and old alike! Crappie Adventures! This is a great time to bring the kids fishing. Bring along that tiny charcoal grill you have in the corner of your garage. Hot chocolate, a cooking pan, hot dogs, S’mores — you get it. My mom and dad would remind us to pick up all the little sticks from the tree falls laying all around the shoreline at the old Mayville boat docks, near the old railroad station. Dad said we could use the dry sticks to help make those chilly spring fishing trips warmer for us and more fun too. We might have spent more time making a fire than fishing on some days.

Anglers travel from Buffalo, Pittsburgh and farther away, to enjoy the exciting fishing fun happening right now in Chautauqua County. While Chautauqua Lake usually offers the largest crappie, significant schools of spring crappie are also found in Findley Lake, Bear Lake and the Cassadaga Lakes.

Black and white crappie coexist in Chautauqua Lake, with black crappie most common. Right after ice out, and not much of that this year, the crappie move into the canals. Right now, they are moving out to spawn along the weed lines all along the lake.

Suspend a minnow in “free-swimming mode” about 1 to 2 feet below the bobber, then pay close attention to the bobber. When it dunks under, give it a gentle pull, not a yank though – FISH ON! Kids yelp that favorite phrase often at this time of year. At Chautauqua Reel Outdoors in Lakewood (716-763-2947), store clerk Joe Smith says Fathead’s, Golden’s and Rosie Red minnows are in the bait tanks and that the lake is warming up. He added that there is good crappie fishing daytime with minnows or micro tube jigs, and good walleye fishing at night – even off the docks, casting minnow-like stickbaits.

Early season boat anglers in kayaks, canoes, car top boats and the usual larger fishing boats, also score on early season crappie. Don’t forget the life jackets, it’s a New York state law now. Anglers wearing insulated chest-high waders often trail long stringers, too, but the chilly water can be tough on longevity for fishing time. With artificial baits, favorites include tiny 2-inch long plastic tube jigs on a 1/64-1/16 ounce jig head colored red, white or chartreuse, suspended 3 to 5 feet under a high-vis yellow or orange weighted float. The two-color and three-color jig tails – with one of the colors a solid white have worked over the years.

Arnolds Bay, Hadley Bay, Sherman Bay and Burtis Bay are popular with south lake anglers, while Bemus Bay, Whitney Bay, Irwin Bay, and the weed beds off Mayville Town Park also attract crappie anglers on the north lake. Not to be forgotten, the stanchions of the Highway 86 Veteran’s Bridge that cross at mid-lake will often hold crappie schools too. The emerging weed beds are the attraction for the crappie in 4 to 6 feet of water. From boats, anglers can fan cast their bobber/jig rigs to find the crappie. Once found, drop a small buoy. When one fish is caught, there are usually dozens more from within a foot or two of the same location. Zero in to score. Savvy anglers looking for the largest crappie search to find underwater weed edge growth that grows outward a few feet from the relatively straight weed line that typically follows the shore contour. These “stick-out spots” usually signify a holding zone for the largest crappie schools roaming to feed and find nesting sites – such spots are usually located deeper in 7 to 10 feet on the outside emerging weed line. Enjoy!

Outdoors Calendar:

May 3-12: Lake Ontario Spring Trout/Salmon/Walleye derby, visit www.loc.org.

May 11: Fly Fishing 101, 9AM-11AM, Orvis Buffalo, Free, gear provided, 4545 Transit Rd., Williamsville. Call 276-7200 to reserve a spot.

May 11: Hunting Heritage Banquet, Springville Strutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey federation, St. Aloysius Church hall, 186 Franklin St., Springville, 5PM start, Info: 592-2388 (Jim Gamel).

NOTE: Submit calendar items to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com.