Enid Lake fisherman Les Smith enjoys power trolling large jigs. He spends
a lot of time on nearby Enid and Sardis lakes. (Photo: Tim Huffman)
Top 10 Best Crappie Lakes for 2025
by Tim Huffman
Creating a perfect list of top ten lakes is impossible. Everyone has a different opinion. However, current trends and input from experts provide good picks for a bucket list of lakes crappie anglers should try in 2025. Each lake provides the potential for an outstanding trip.
#10 – PICKWICK LAKE
Located in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, Pickwick includes 43,000 acres and 50 miles of water, providing plenty of places to chase crappie. Experts say crappie catching has been better than normal for the past few years and should be again in 2025. Popular areas include Yellow, Indian and Bear Creeks.
#9 – WEISS LAKE
Weiss Lake, located in Northern Alabama, has been a perennial favorite for crappie anglers for decades. Long ago it used to hold huge crappie. Perhaps to the long pressure o0n the lake, it doesn’t produce as many trophies as it used to, but it remains an outstanding lake for big numbers of crappie.
It has many structures and cover for crappie to hide. Fishing along the channels is popular, especially when water is cool. The shallow flats are good areas to find and follow fish during the spawn. Docks are popular and so is brush and stumps. The lake has plenty places to fish and allows a variety of different fishing techniques to be successfully used.
#8 – ENID LAKE
This northern Mississippi lake made history with a world record white crappie weighing 5.2 pounds, caught in 1957 – but the record still stands today. Today, the lake is known for great numbers of fish just over and under the 12-inch length limit. It provides a few huge fish, too. Expect a lot of action. Along with an over 12-inch length limit, the daily limit is ten crappie per fisherman. Trolling is a very popular technique on the lake, but other techniques work too.
#7 – ST. JOHNS RIVER
You’ll not catch a prettier crappie than the big, beautiful, gold-tinted black crappie found in this Florida river. It’s also number one for beautiful scenery. It’s a top-pick winter lake any fisherman will enjoy. December through February are top months. Jig, troll, shoot docks, cast or slow troll. The lake is within an hour or two of popular family-friendly things to do.
This Oklahoma reservoir is more than 100,000 acres. It’s known for huge numbers of average-size fish and a liberal limit of 37 crappie per person (Yes, a limit of 37 per person. That’s not a typo.). It’s unique because crappie are not as spooky as in other lakes, so they are easier to catch. The water is stained and almost any technique can be used to catch them. It’s a great place to take someone to have fun and put fish in the freezer. Due to the lake size, consider hiring a guide the first day.
#5 – SARDIS LAKE
Sardis Lake in North Mississippi has the history of good fish in the 11- to 14-inch range, with plenty over 15 inches. It has been down a little from previous years, but it’s still a great place to catch crappie. Forward-facing sonar, long lining and power trolling are popular techniques. Pulling crankbaits is popular here during warm weather months. Medium speed winds are dangerous here so good safety decisions are critical. The lake has a good campground, but motels are scarce, so consider Batesville.
#4 – LAKE O’ THE PINES
This Texas lake jumps up to the #4 spot from the #10 spot last year. Like many Texas lakes, it has a history of good crappie fishing. It’s known for good numbers of crappie with a few 15-inch-plus fish to add to your catch. It has great spring action but is best known for outstanding deep-water action in the winter.
#3 – LAKE FORK
Also in Texas, Lake Fork covers 27,000 acres. This is another great lake for producing big, slab crappie including three-plus pounders. It has quality black and white crappie that will hammer a jig or minnow for adrenaline-filled excitement. Jigging with forward-facing sonar is a top technique, but other methods work, too. Crappie are caught on timber, docks, grass, bridge pilings and other structures.
In Mississippi the locals simply like to refer to Barnett Reservoir as “The Rez.” Jumping into our #2, “The Rez” has good numbers of crappie and its share of slabs. The lake has a variety of structures and covers, allowing the use of different techniques. It is near the urban area of Jackson, MS so it gets fishing pressure. But Grenada and Sardis get most of the out-of-state attention. There are many things for your family to enjoy on and off the water in the Ridgeland/Jackson area.
#1 – GRENADA LAKE
This well-known Mississippi lake is often called “Home of the Three Pound Crappie.” Visiting fishermen often fill their dreams of catching a monster slab. Negatives in the spring include very heavy fishing pressure, dangerous waves on windy days and frequent high-water periods that makes catching difficult. However, the challenges are worth it when you get into some active, monster fish. Peak fishing is mid-February through March. Summer is an overlooked season here but it’s a great time for longline crankbaiting or power trolling toward the dam. The town of Grenada has plenty of hotels and restaurants.
For a list of the Best 50 Crappie Lakes for 2025, check out www.monstercrappie.com
Senior CrappieNOW writer and Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame member, Tim Huffman, has several books, including Papermouth, Modern Fishing Techniques, available in Kindle or paperback at Amazon, or link from his website, www.monstercrappie.com
