Thread: I have always wondered.....

I know that in Lake Huron, they do catch them. Specifically speaking, wouldfowl bay on the South East side of Saginaw bay around the Sebawaing area. They also catch them out of the Saginaw river which would mean they have access out to Lake Huron.

They do catch them in the Detroit river in the canals and cuts so they do have access out in to Lake Erie. Another destination where they are caught is the Swan Creek Area around the Fermi Nuclear plant and in the bay and channel at Sterling State Park.

On the west side of the State, they are caught in the river and channel leading out to the Port of Grand Haven, Muskegon lake with access to Lake Michigan, White Lake with access to Lake Michigan, Pentwater lake with access to lake Michigan, Pere Marquette lake with access to lake Michigan, Manistee lake with access to lake Michigan, and Portage lake with access to lake Michigan.

What do all these areas really have in common? Slow moving water, resting areas, or areas you would consider as "bays" or "tributaries". The majority of them have little (if any) reason to actually travel out in to open water. I would however say that if you could find areas of structure you "might" have the ability to find crappies in open water. Places like "Orchard beach" in Lake Michigan where there is a large rock pile is one that comes to mind.

My thought is that the "open water" areas of our great lakes doesn't hold enough structure holding areas to allow for piles of fish. Places where there are weeds and other hiding spots. My thought is that the open water areas are simply too turbulant to sustain their normal way of life. Wind and waves effect the bottom. Being as their isn't very many weeds in open water, the plankton and the baitfish are directly effected by the moving currents, wind, and waves, I would say that these fish move in to these bays and connected lakes as they have more of the life supporting attributes they need.

Not saying they are not out there and if you find one, you will find 100 probably. I just think that there simply isn't the life support they need in those open water areas. I have 100's of hours trolling Saginaw bay and have yet to catch one crappie. I do have a few spots where they are "likely" to be found but, I have other things on my mind in that area!

Originally Posted by wicklundrh

I know that in Lake Huron, they do catch them. Specifically speaking, wouldfowl bay on the South East side of Saginaw bay around the Sebawaing area. They also catch them out of the Saginaw river which would mean they have access out to Lake Huron.

They do catch them in the Detroit river in the canals and cuts so they do have access out in to Lake Erie. Another destination where they are caught is the Swan Creek Area around the Fermi Nuclear plant and in the bay and channel at Sterling State Park.

On the west side of the State, they are caught in the river and channel leading out to the Port of Grand Haven, Muskegon lake with access to Lake Michigan, White Lake with access to Lake Michigan, Pentwater lake with access to lake Michigan, Pere Marquette lake with access to lake Michigan, Manistee lake with access to lake Michigan, and Portage lake with access to lake Michigan.

What do all these areas really have in common? Slow moving water, resting areas, or areas you would consider as "bays" or "tributaries". The majority of them have little (if any) reason to actually travel out in to open water. I would however say that if you could find areas of structure you "might" have the ability to find crappies in open water. Places like "Orchard beach" in Lake Michigan where there is a large rock pile is one that comes to mind.

My thought is that the "open water" areas of our great lakes doesn't hold enough structure holding areas to allow for piles of fish. Places where there are weeds and other hiding spots. My thought is that the open water areas are simply too turbulant to sustain their normal way of life. Wind and waves effect the bottom. Being as their isn't very many weeds in open water, the plankton and the baitfish are directly effected by the moving currents, wind, and waves, I would say that these fish move in to these bays and connected lakes as they have more of the life supporting attributes they need.

Not saying they are not out there and if you find one, you will find 100 probably. I just think that there simply isn't the life support they need in those open water areas. I have 100's of hours trolling Saginaw bay and have yet to catch one crappie. I do have a few spots where they are "likely" to be found but, I have other things on my mind in that area!

Thank you Wick. It makes sense that as you pointed out the open water conditions just doesn't supply the conditions needed for crappie to truly thrive there. I guess I never really got to the part of anilizing crappie needs vs environment in the great lakes.
Now that I think about it the crappie body shape also does not indicate the survival shape needed for open water areas and conditions. All the resident fishes of those conditions have a longer and streamlined body that is better suited to speed attacks of prey fishes compared to a crappie's body that is better suited to still water and ambush in structure laden environments of wood or heavy weeds. Thanks also for letting me know of some new fishing area to try. I just may take a ride to some of the " tributaries" you mentioned in search o a few specks.

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Not a problem. Glad I could shed light on a few things.

Another thing to consider in open water is predation. Not so much other fish as crappies deal with those conditions all the time. The issue again relates back to cover. Many of todays fish in the great lakes are threatened by the Invasive Cormarant bird that can dive up to 20 feet to gobble up fish. Since the introduction of zebra mussles in the great lakes, the water quality (visiblity) has improved to a point that you can see much further into the water column than you could 30 years ago. Zebra mussles can filter 8 quarters of water per day "EACH". This allows for much more light to reach deeper into the water. Not many places for fish to hide from birds of prey.

I do see that you are located in Jackson. That is just a stones throw from where I live (East of Leslie). There are a TON of lakes in our area that hold crappies of all shapes and sizes!

My son is a plumber and recently got called out to do a job which happened to be at a DNR fisheries biologists home.....the two of them got to talking about fishing and the biologist learned my son was from the UP (we lived on Big Bay de Noc-Garden Bay) the conversation turned to crappie, among other fish.....he told my son that there was a huge population of Crappie at/near Escanaba (Little Bay de Noc) he wasn't giving any information as to exact places however.....I guess thats for us to figure out!

Having spent a good bit of time fishing little bay, I have my guesses as to "where" these locations "might" be!!!

The hard part is traveling up there and bypassing all the other locations that have great crappie fishing!

I do alot of my crappie fishing on Tippy Dam pond in Wellston and Hodepyle Pond in Mesik. I love fishing these two resevours as they both have lots of flooded timber and blowdowns laying in the water... Both waters has produced many Master Angler size crappie for me. I typically vertical Jig. I just love that thump when they hit a jig. My largest to date was a 15.5 incher from Tippy Pond.
Both ponds also produce great smallmouth bass up to 3+lbs, good northern pike and some nice walleyes. Considering there size neither pond recieves heavy pressure and the submerged timber hazards keep the jet skiers and tubers and speed demons away. Water is extremely clear and cold. With typical mid summer visibility down to 15+ ft. This clarity creates some challenges when jigging but without the challenges where's the fun. Right?

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I grew up in that area and considered Hodenpyle my home waters with literally thousands of hours logged fishing it.

Look through the old posts and I think you may find a pretty detailed fishing report of the area