Page 5 - Crappie NOW - April 2019

NORTH DAKOTA CRAPPIE & TRAVEL

weekends in warm weather we see rises in
family use, but the lake is primarily a fishing
lake.
“Walleye and perch are very popular but
most of the time we see fishermen going after
whatever is biting. Our waters are unique in
that we have brine shrimp in it. That has really
helped keep our fish healthy and thriving.”
Cherney says along with the walleye and
perch, northern pike, white bass and crappie
are present. He says crappie popularity has
really taken a jump in the past few years.
“Ice fishing is always good, but a good time
to get them is in the spring after the ice is gone.
The crappie will be up in the shallows and
easy to get. Fish are caught along the edges.
As spring continues and the water warms, the
fish start moving deeper.”
Crappie aren’t targeted in the summer
and fall. The fish are deep, especially in the
summer, so finding them is the key. Also,
presentations become more difficult when the
fish get deep.
Cherney says, “Ice melting is weather
dependent but May 1st is the general time we
can get the boat out on the lake. Out-of-state
fishermen should consider hiring a guide for
at least a couple of days to learn about areas
of the lake and tactics that work. The lake has
about a dozen public ramps and probably a
dozen more private resorts with ramps. The
lake is so big that wind is an obvious problem,
but there are so many bays finding a shelters
area usually isn’t difficult.”
Lake Oahe has crappie and is close to
Bismark. Jamestown Reservoir, in the eastern-
central part of the state, is another spot for
crappie.
Guide Cody Roswick (fin-hunters.com,
710-840-5407) fishes several waters including Casting and vertical jigging are two top
Devils Lake and Lake Ashtaula. “At ice-out, methods for catching Dakota crappie.
we are looking in the backs of bays and little (photo by Cody Roswick)
harbors. The creeks warm up and that draws
in minnows. Everything, including crappie,
comes to the minnows.” white.
Roswick says, “I like to cast a little jig in “The key is to find a little warmer water.
about 3 to 12 feet of water. Our lakes aren’t Three to five degrees makes a big difference.
clear in the spring because of the runoff from The crappie fishing in most of our lakes is
the snowmelt, so our water has a stain. A good because they are basically untouched.
Northland Fire-fly, a hair jig, works great and A fisherman can come here and have a good
my favorite colors are yellow-white and pink- time.”

5 Crappie NOW April 2019