Lake Talquin (west of Tallahassee) This 8,800-acre reservoir is just outside Tallahassee. It’s where the FWC’s top brass goes fishing, so you know they’re going to make sure this lake gets all the attention it can use. A 10” minimum size limit on the lake helps to maintain the crappie fishery. Is it any surprise the state record 3-pound, 13 ¼-ounce black crappie was pulled out of Lake Talquin? This lake has lots of submerged stumps and snags, so you’ll want to exercise care when boating. But, if you want to catch some nice crappie, you’ll love it here. Catch rates remain outstanding for 2009, with many fish exceeding 2 pounds.
Orange Lake / Lochloosa Lake (located between Gainesville and Ocala) Despite low water level creating access issues at Orange and Lochloosa Lakes, the crappie fishing has been excellent the last few years. Crappie over a pound have been common, and reports of fish over 2 pounds have been steady. The lakes have generated enough of a reputation that the Crappie USA organization has added Orange and Lochloosa Lakes to their tour. Black crappie can be targeted in the winter and spring months near shore. On both lakes, the pads and the grasses are good places to target your effort using minnows. As summer and fall approach, drift the open water using jigs and/or minnows, particularly near any offshore hydrilla patches that are available. If water levels are low during your planned trip, the Heagy-Burry Park boat ramp is the best ramp to use in Orange Lake. Additionally, the county or the Lochloosa Harbor Fish Camp ramps should be accessible in Lake Lochloosa. Lake Weir (south Marion County) This lake is producing very good crappie catches and hosts a Crappie USA qualifying event in January 2009. Located near Weirsdale, this 5,685-acre lake is somewhat atypical, with many depths exceeding 20 feet and irregular bottom contours. The FWC maintains 12 brush fish attractors which are successfully utilized by many anglers. These attractors can be easily spotted by looking for the large yellow marker buoys. For GPS coordinates of the attractors, contact our fishery biologists at (352) 732-1225. Most anglers use minnows and grass shrimp near the attractors, but some will drift the open waters too. Crescent Lake (Flagler & Putnam Counties)Cooler temperatures bring plenty of visitors to this lake for its often outstanding crappie fishing. Although the lake is known to have its good years and bad years, it is considered one of the best crappie lakes in the region, and this looks like it’s going to be one of the good years. Anglers should have good luck drifting or trolling minnows or crappie jigs (Hal-Flies are local favorites), particularly in the southern end of the lake. This 15,960-acre lake is a tributary of the St. Johns River and public access to Crescent Lake can be obtained on the west shore off of Highway 17 in Crescent City. A map may be found on the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website (myFWC.com).  Lake Marian (southeast Osceola County, east of Lake Kissimmee)
This is the lake to fish when you want to catch lots of crappie, and you don’t care if they’re not the biggest fish you’ve ever seen. With many measuring 9 inches or more they’re big enough, however, and they’re packed into this 5,739-acre lake. So it’s not hard to find them with minnows, small jigs or other typical offerings. Troll, drift fish…whatever works for you will likely work for the abundant specks as well—then go home and have fresh fish for dinner. Lake Marion (east of Haines City)For those “in the know” this shallow 5,739-acre lake appears on most lists of top speck sites. While not known for producing large crappie, Marian is widely regarded as one of the better “numbers” lakes. During the cooler months, crappie move into the bulrushes, cattails and lily pads to spawn. In warmer months, they’re found by drifting or slow-trolling in open water areas. Cane polers are likely to employ Missouri minnows here, while those using light spinning tackle claim nothing beats Hal-Flies or Beetle Spins. West Lake Tohopekaliga (south of the city of Kissimmee) In addition to its fame as a nationally acclaimed largemouth bass destination, Lake Toho has quickly gained a reputation in central Florida as a super spot for big and abundant crappie. Quite a few FWC “Big Catch” crappie (minimum 14 inches in length or 2 pounds in weight) have already been reported from this lake. Anglers are having the most success on FWC fish attractors with Hal Flies (most any color) and minnows. For GPS coordinates of the fish attractors on Lake Toho, contact our fishery biologists at (352) 732-1225. Lake Kissimmee (east of the city of Lake Wales) It’s not just a famous largemouth bass fishing spot. A few years ago, you wouldn’t have seen 35,000-acre Lake Kissimmee on this list, but things changed dramatically about four years ago, and crappie fishing here has remained excellent ever since. And Anglers are catching big ones, too. To catch your share of crappie in this lake, fish with minnows and jigs along the grass line and offshore. The deeper holes off the grass lines are good spots to try as well. Tenoroc / Mosaic Fish Management Areas (Polk County)Fishing for crappie on Tenoroc, a 7,300-acre Fish Management Area near Lakeland, can be a rewarding experience, especially during cooler months. With lakes ranging in size from seven to 227 acres, anglers will have plenty of areas to dunk a bobber with a minnow or jig. Schooling fish can often be caught using this rig near deep drop-offs and underwater humps. Casting a small Beetle Spin or jig tipped with a minnow can also produce some nice stringers of fish. Try Lakes 3, 4, 5, and F for some of the best action. Call the Tenoroc office at 863-648-3200 for more information or to make reservations, because these lakes are only open to fishing four days a week.
Lakes within the 1,000-acre Mosaic Fish Management Area near Ft. Meade in southern Polk County boast some mighty fine crappie populations. The dozen lakes available range in size from 10 to 200 acres and many have shorelines with an abundant supply of submerged brush, tree tops, and vegetation that are perfect targets for placing a well-hooked minnow under a float. Trolling deeper areas with this rig can also be productive, especially during winter. Casting a small Beetle Spin or jig into deeper areas can also produce fish at times. Try Pine Lake East, SP12 South and Haul Road Pit for some of the best action. The area is only open to fishing four days a week and it’s first-come, first served—but don’t worry, you’ll always have a spot somewhere. For more information, please call (863) 648-3200. Lake Istokpoga (near Sebring) This lake may be best known for its largemouth bass fishing, but others know that winter is prime time to catch crappie in this 28,000-acre fishing wonder. From November through April, anglers troll open water with Hal-Flies, doll flies, spinner jigs and Napier jigs to pinpoint schools of crappie and then rack up the numbers. When the water temperature stabilizes around 65 degrees, crappie move into bulrush and spatterdock along the shoreline to spawn. There’s a trick to catching them when that happens. Move slowly through the vegetation in three to six feet of water and thoroughly cover the holes and pockets among the vegetation with a crappie jig. Lake Trafford –Located about 30 miles southeast of Fort Myers in Immokalee, this 1,500-acre lake is also regarded as a good “numbers” lake for black crappie. The lake had not made this “Top Spots” list since a fish kill in 2004, but FWC biologists have sampled respectable numbers of young fish since 2005. Low water levels kept most fishermen off the lake last year, so there should be plenty of 3- and 4-year-old fish to be caught this year. A recent creel survey on the lake also shows good catch rates by anglers, comparable to the pre-low water days. Biologist Ralph LaPrairie (561-625-5122) recommends drifting minnows early or late in the day and if you can’t locate schooling crappie in the middle of the lake, try jigs and minnows along the vegetated shoreline.
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