Big crappie up north are, in general, a smaller size class. Also, the fishing situation of a long warm weather season at Grenada or the Alabama River in the south isn’t available in the north. Therefore, a good pick for someone in the north is to go down to Illinois. More specifically, Lake Kinkaid. I fish with a guide and friend, Kyle Schoenherr, with the best fishing usually in the dead of winter. The conditions aren’t great. However, while filming a show there I caught a 2.99 from 40 feet of water. The bites are incredibly light, weather bad, but opportunities good for a big fish. – Russ Bailey.
