Obviously those above the Mason Dixon Line will be stuck ice fishing for crappie, which can be an awesome time, but those further South can still catch open water crappie in the dead of winter.

How to find and catch spawning crappies in shallow water this spring using these proven tips, baits, and locations to maximize your early-season crappie bite.

Tyler — GOOD. Water normal stain; 70 degrees; 0.17 feet above pool. Crappie are fair on brush piles with minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow in 5-6 feet of water with stink bait and cut bait.

Fishing guide Ben Matsubu says crappie can be caught shallow and deep. Good numbers holding around brush in 4 to 6 feet, hitting Roadrunners and minnows ... are fair on live bait around the ...