Spring's not the only time for successful crappie fishing

You don't have to wait for the fall period or next spring to have a tasty crappie dinner.

Granted, it may be a bit tougher to locate these schools of aggressive panfish, but the effort can pay off for those who formulate a plan.

Wally Marshall, otherwise known as "Mr. Crappie," continues to preach his gospel about crappie angling. If you've been to any of the giant tackle shops, you may have seen Wally's tempting video pieces talking to you as you roam the aisles looking for bargains.

Marshall suggests we look to various river environs for the crappie jackpots, but don't overlook some of our local and area lakes. For example, Deep Lake, a longtime bass and panfish favorite, has weed pockets in deeper water that serve as home to the bigger panfish. The west shoreline can be a bonanza for jumbo 'gills and slab crappie.

But back to the rivers and Wally Marshall, and I quote the sage: "Crappie rarely challenge the main flow of a river, preferring to use eddies, slack water, and cover that breaks the current."

He goes on to say, "Crappie will spawn out of current in areas that warm quicker than the main flow, with peak spawning at 66- to 70-degree water temperature. Vertical cover that extends from the river bottom to above the surface is nearly always a good holding place for crappie in rivers with heavy current. The heavier the current, the wider the cover must be to hold them. In rivers with slower current, trees, brush, and stumps become more important as crappie holding areas. Crappie will almost always use the down-current side of cover."

On the Fox Chain, Petite Lake has returned to the status of a good crappie location. When the prolific yellow bass ruled supreme there some years back, the massive schools of crappie seemed to disappear. The battle for forage food seemed endless as time went by, and the crappie took an eight-count and wound up the loser. And then, like manna from heaven, the jumbo crappies showed up again and took their rightful place in the pecking order while the yellow bass population seemed to decline.

When it comes to bait and lures that anglers like to use, a tiny minnow still ranks at the top of the list, followed closely by micro-jigs, like the white and chartreuse, 1/32-ounce Mini-Mite, the Crappie Queen, and the like.

Slip floats and minnows are good for lake and river fishing, as well as the jigs.

One of the best Midwest river crappie locations is the Mississippi River. The optimum place to start your hunt is in the backwaters, where some weedlines exist out of the faster water.

Give it a shot now when you need a change of pace. You could be pleasantly surprised.

Reader worried more cuts coming for state's DNR

As the Illinois state legislature continues to arm wrestle over a state budget and the fallout from proposed higher taxes, many of us who enjoy the outdoor treasures in Illinois are worried that the possible cuts in state services could spill over once again in to the Dept. of Natural Resources.

I'm not alone in that thinking. One reader and observer, Ed S., wrote me with concerns that this fiscal forecast could very well come true.

"I fish and hunt through the entire state," Ed S. wrote, "and it doesn't take a degree in commonsense to understand the DNR has been the whipping boy for lawmakers when they need to cover up their ineptitude over money issues."

The IDNR had been slowly recovering from a major "gutting" by our former governor, and for all practical purposes it has been operating on fumes and the determination to survive with an ever-present fiscal guillotine hanging over its head.

The clock is ticking.

Illinois River news: It's not official but the monetary fallout from a recent fish kill on the Illinois River could be more than $250,000. Officials in the IDNR haven't pointed any fingers yet in this incident, which happened near Grand Detour.

Fishing update

Fox Chain: There's been excellent muskie angling on Lake Catherine, Channel Lake, and Lake Marie. Bucktails and suckers serving as good menu items for the toothy critters. Pistakee Lake bluegill action has been the best of all the lakes with big fish being taken in shallow water. The cool front and extra-heavy water flow on the Chain has made for excellent walleye fishing. The Spring Lake Channel has been a major focal point for some of the larger "eyes".

Fox River: You can just about pick and choose your spots along parts of the upper river at the narrow inlets leading to backwater pools. Smallmouth and crappie are being taken on small jigs, leeches, and nightcrawlers.

Cooling lakes: With the major shad kill aside, it looks like a good shot to pick up some large stripers on LaSalle and Heidecke lakes.

Lake Michigan: As in past years I bring you the bad news again that perch fishing is closed to adults for the entire month of July, just when the jumbo action returned to the main stage. Age 5 and younger ages can still wet a line though. Salmon and trout are deep, especially off Waukegan. A few anglers and charter boats are taking fish at 80-feet out of Northpoint.

• Mike Jackson can be reached via e-mail at angler@mikejacksonoutdoors.com . Mike's radio program is heard Sunday mornings 6-7 a.m., on WSBC, AM-1240.