Guide To Crappie Fishing In Iowa

Crappie Waters In IA

All about fishing for white and black crappie.

Most waters in Iowa have a population of crappie. In winter, ice fishing for crappie is a very popular passtime. Generally speaking, the warmer the waters the larger the populations of crappie. Many rivers, creeks, ponds and small lakes sport a population of crappie, but the consistently better stringer tend to come from larger lakes and impoundments.

Some of the larger lakes with crappie include Big Creek Lake, Big Spirit Lake, Black Hawk Lake, Browns Lake, Brushy Creek Lake, Clear Lake, Coralville Lake, DeSoto Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Five Island Lake, Lake Icaria, Lake MacBride, Lake Manawa, Lake Red Rock, Lake Wapello, Little River Lake, Little Spirit Lake, Lost Grove Lake, Lost Island Lake, North Twin Lake, Okamanpeedan Lake, Pleasant Creek Lake, Rathbun Lake, Saylorville Lake, Silver Lake, Storm Lake, Three Mile Reservoir, Twelve Mile Creek Lake and West Okoboji Lake.

Click the images and links above for species details.

Top 5 Crappie Fishing Lures For Iowa

Crappie jigs work well in water from 2' to 40' deep, and are the most popular artificial lure for crappie ever. When crappie are shallow, spinners, small crankbaits and underspins are the often very productive. As they move deeper, spoons are among the top producers if the crappie are active. Understanding the seasonal movements of crappie can enhance your chances of using these lures in the ideal locations.

Iowa State Record Crappie

The state record black crappie was caught from Three Mile Lake.

The state record white crappie came out of Green Castle Lake.

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in many Iowa lakes. Crappie are known by many different local names. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch, slabs and speckled perch, are just a few.

Crappie Fishing Basics Video

Check out crappie information, by state.