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Pre-spawn crappies: When you find them, you’ll reap serious rewards

Using light tackle and subtle presentations, anglers can entice elusive slab crappies from their cool April hideouts in shallow bays and brush-filled coves. Patience is key as crappies move sluggishly in still-chilly waters, requiring precise jigging and delicate bait finesse. Try early mornings and late evenings with soft plastics or live minnows. (Photo by Lindner Media Productions)

For many anglers, the spring period means one thing – crappies, particularly shallow water slabs. In Minnesota, with most game fish seasons closed, anglers focus their efforts on chasing crappies, especially as they move to the shallows to spawn.
While the popular opinion certainly leans toward the spawning timeframe, I personally prefer the pre-spawn period.

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