Floats with small jigs are the preferred method, and because of the presence of current, a larger-than-normal jig is important. A 1/16-ounce jig is a good rule of thumb, though a 1/8-ounce jig is best in areas where the current is still too heavy. Check with the folks at Four Seasons Sport Shop in Red Wing for the latest hot colors and jig styles.

Additional information can be found at www.redwing.org or by calling the Red Wing Visitors & Convention Bureau at 1-800-498-3444.

LAKE MINNETONKA
This lake is home to terrific populations of most every game fish in Minnesota, and the crappies are no exception. Home of the annual Crappies Contest each spring since 1968, Minnetonka’s easy-to-access channels and bays make it a crappie fishing mecca during the early season. The contest typically features several 2-pound-plus crappies, and anglers from shore tend to do almost as well as those from boats.

The advantage of fishing from a boat is that you’re better able to access the edges of a lot of the shallower locations like bays, shallow breaklines and points. These areas — particularly those with green weeds — hold massive numbers of crappies in the spring and well into the summertime. Minnetonka’s crappie population includes both white crappies and black crappies in healthy numbers, according to the DNR’s west-metro fisheries office.

“The deciding factor is what kind of spring are we having and what is that doing to the water temperatures,” Tuma said.

The competition from other predators is fierce on Minnetonka, but the 3- to 5-foot range tends to be dominated by crappies early on. Once the milfoil thickens up, crappies tend to seek shelter beneath its canopy — largely from the massive muskies that roam the lake. These crappies tend to be less afraid during lowlight conditions and during the nighttime, according to anglers who report good catches during that time of day.

Fishing information can be had by calling Wayzata Bait at (952) 473-2227 or Minnetonka Outdoors at (952) 470-8800. To learn more information about the area, contact the Wayzata Chamber of Commerce at www.wayzatachamber.com, or call (952) 473-9595.

LAKE WACONIA
Growing up as a Minneapolis boy meant regular crappie-fishing trips to Lake Waconia, both in the winter and in the spring. The population was good way back then, and it’s going very strong today. Cindy Mase, owner of In-Towne Marina in Waconia, said the crappie population is better than ever.

The west-metro DNR fisheries office strongly supports her assessment by citing Waconia as having an excellent population, especially for a metro-area lake with high fishing pressure. Almost half of the crappies sampled in a DNR study were larger than 8 inches, and the largest fish was nearly 12 inches.

Finding crappies on Waconia is not too difficult in the spring, and almost as easy even during the tough summer bite.

“There are a few generic locations around the lake where a variety of species are caught throughout the year, crappies being among them,” Mase said.

Locations include each of Waconia’s major reefs and points, but my personal favorites include Wagners Bay and Pillsbury Reef. In the spring and early summer, the weedline anywhere along these structures is hard to beat, especially in the range of 8 to 14 feet of water.