The secret to successful Kentucky crappie fishing is knowing just when you need to get out there to find the fish that are biting. Of course, it’s also quite helpful to know WHERE to go to catch a good amount of crappie or at least some nice, large slabs. Luckily, there are a lot of choices in Kentucky, and because the state is somewhat south of the extreme cold winters, the waters warm quickly in the spring, bringing the crappie to the shallows early. If you make your run to the lakes from mid-March to May, you should do well at one of several lakes that are ideal for Kentucky crappie fishing.

If you hit the lakes when water temperatures have warmed to between 55 and 65, you should try Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. Crappie tend to spawn in these temperatures and will be especially accessible in an expanded area if the water in the lakes is rising slowly. Avoid muddy lake waters, and remember that black crappie are the larger population of these areas, with fewer white crappie, and the black variety will move into shallow water sooner. Therefore, for the best Kentucky crappie fishing on these lakes, you should be prepared to get out early in the season.

You can also try the 5,700-acre Nolin River Lake, a reservoir in northwestern Kentucky, where it’s usually pretty easy to find crappie in excess of 8 inches in length. The lake is fairly deep and, due to its proximity to Louisville, you’ll find that it’s almost always busy with anglers from the city. However, there is still great Kentucky crappie fishing to be had. There are several major tributaries to the lake, which also contain a great number of crappie. Early in the spring, the crappie can be found at depths of 8-15 feet and finding cover along the dropoffs along the contours of the channels but will move to shallower depths as the lake warms, taking cover in the many brushy areas along the shoreline.

Taylorsville Lake in the heart of the state has become quite popular for Kentucky crappie fishing because there is only a 9-inch size limit on your catch. According to many anglers who frequent the lake, almost every one you catch meets that requirement. With the lack of extensive rainfall in recent years, the black crappie population has expanded in Taylorsville because they prefer the clearer waters. On the other hand, the white crappie like darker, less transparent waters and have fallen off a bit in recent years. With large schools and heavily populated waters, anglers can expect to reach the 15 fish per day limit in a short time, perhaps a couple of hours, especially if you hit the woody areas of the lake, where the Taylorsville crappie seem to prefer to take cover.

About the Author:
Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is commited to providing the best crappie fishing information possible. Get more information on Kentucky crappie fishing here: http://www.askcrappiefishing.com

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