New to Rockville area, needing crappie / bass fishing advises & pals

Folks, I've most recently relocated to Rockville from Oklahoma. Back in the southern state, people do bass and crappie fishing almost nonstop whole year round. And while I did not do crappie fishing a lot, I'm a seasoned bank bass angler with just too many gears for all different techniques.

With the cold weather here, I'm guessing bass fishing from bank is probably too early. But what about crappie? Are they active in shallow water in sunny days for this time of the year? Where do you typically fish nowadays? -- I do have done some online research and understand that lakes little sceneca, needwood, bernad frank, clopper etc. and some locks along the river probably could be some start points to me. But the other weekend when the temp topped 60+F and I drove to the black hill park, I saw nobody fishing except some folks walking their dogs there. Am I in the right place at the right time for crappie/bass fishing? Any insights about best time / spots? And better still, any one don't mind a fishing meet-up some time to give me a quick heads-up -- be assured I can be your "less bothering" fishing pal, I.e. won't ask you if I can fish crappie with a Berkeley glowstik 9' MH rod, or why my float keeps sinking, or on the flip side keep showing off how smooth is my ABEC 9 upgraded Shimano core 51mg, things like that ;)

Thanks!

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Now that it's getting really cold, crappie in the lakes you mentioned will move to the deeper parts, not really accessible to the shore bound angler. I lived in Rockville for many years and have fished all of the above. It's much more a spring time fishery when the fish move up to shallow water to spawn. Come spring time, walk the banks at Clopper Lake and look for beaver huts, there are quite a few and they will hold loads of crappie, bass too. Also try right out front of the pavilion at Lake Needwood, especially in the evening as the sun goes down. Can be very productive. Another very good lake for spring crappie is the Tridelphia Reservoir, particularly at the Pigtail area off of Tridelphia Mill Rd. Good luck.

Thank you, Rocksteady. Guess I'll just wait for another month or so. BTW what gears, rigs and lures do you typically use in those relatively smaller lakes like clopper and needwood? Is it convenient to dip a jig or jig under float using a 9' or so pole, or will casting out using a 6' or so spinning rod work better? What about lures - tubs, road runners, or live minnows? Also where do folks in Rockville typically buy fishing supplies from? The BPS near baltimore certainly looks nice but appears a bit too far, and the Dick's near Rio is not my most like -- so far, but I can certainly adjust :)

Dicks and Sports Authority are the only places close by up there anymore as the small shops have all gone by the wayside.
Sports Authority Gaithersburg
110 Odendhal Ave
Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Small spinning gear is probably your best bet as it's easier to walk the myriad trails and get through brushy areas. The typical crappi lures you mentioned will work but nothing beats small live minnows which can be trapped at a lot of small creeks in the area. Suburban sprawl has gotten so bad up that way that it might be hard for you to even start to look for such places. I will get back to you and give you some spots that will produce. I have to walk my dog right now(Giving me the look) but will be back later. Out here....

No bait shop, not many places for frays, and have to compete against the general crowd, that's sad. Thanks anyway, buddy. Guess I'll need to do more trial and errors here...

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