Catching Oregon Crappie When Fishing

In Oregon, crappie fishing is a great sport withcrappie fishing also thrives in several area reservoirs,
abundant locations to troll and cast in hopes of takingincluding Dexter and Dorena Reservoirs. Here, you
home prize-winning sized slabs. Depending on themay have to troll pretty deep to pick up a school of
particular location that you are in or intend to visit, you'llcrappie, since the area reservoirs tend to be clear and
find all sorts of fish, though crappie are by far some ofsunlight penetrates pretty deep into the waters. Dune
the most common fish to seek out in the state. In eachLake offers great banked fishing, where dense cover
area, you basically have your choice of excellentaround the shorelines makes a great home
Oregon crappie fishing lakes. Just remember that,environment for crappie. Fern Ridge Ponds and
because it gets fairly cold in the state during the winter,Reservoir to the west of Eugene yield great quantities
Oregon crappie fishing tends to taper off in Decemberof good sized white crappie, and for those who prefer
and picks back up in early March, as the waters beginto look for black crappie, Siltcoos Lake, south of
to warm again and crappie begin spawning. FindFlorence, is the place to start your search.
locations with deep holes, where schools of crappieIn the Portland area, you'll also find that Oregon crappie
tend to gather during the winter, and be sure to trollfishing is in full swing much of the year, though spring is
slowly and be patient. When you find a school ofthe best time, when the waters are warming and the
crappie, you'll have several bites and won't beschools are spawning. If you go in the spring or
disappointed. In the spring, look for bottlenecked areassummer, try the Bonnie Lure State Recreation Area,
where females are looking for shelter out of thewhere fishing is just one of the major activities allowed
stream during spawning season and get caught out ofin the park, which also has attractions such as speed
the flow. You'll be sure to pick up several here.boating and swimming. The Government Island State
In the Lane County area, fishing of interest becauseRecreation Area in the Columbia River in northeast
there are several lakes of interest, especially thosePortland is a great place to look for crappie, with about
containing white crappie. Head to the Eugene area, and15 miles of shoreline and lots of brush cover for these
you'll find Delta Ponds, west of Delta Highway in northfish. This free campground tends to be extremely
Eugene for a hatchery of white crappie. Oregonpopular among anglers, even in winter months.