Often dubbed papermouths because of the thin tissue around their mouths, crappies are also a very tasty fish to eat. Since crappies have such thin tissue around their mouths, it makes them a little tougher to catch than bluegills or other varieties of sunfish.

Luckily for Hoosierland anglers, crappies are available throughout the state, and in this article we're going to take a look at three crappie hotspots that are located in the northern-tier counties of Indiana. Two of these choices are geared more for ice-anglers or those with boats, and the third choice is geared more toward shore-fishing after ice out.

BASS LAKE
Situated in the northwest part of the state in Starke County, this 1,345-acre lake is one of the premier crappie hotspots in the northern level of the state. As a point of interest, Bass Lake is also Indiana's third-largest natural lake.

Statistical information from a fish harvest survey conducted for Bass Lake in 2000 discovered that this lake's crappie population is doing well. An enormous 80.4 percent of the 6,702 fish collected during the survey were crappies, and these ranged in size from 6 to 14 inches.

Bass Lake has an expansive area on its south end that is very shallow, and very good for crappie fishing in the early spring. Papermouths assemble in this area to spawn in the abundant aquatic vegetation that is located here, and to feed on forage fish that like the aquatic vegetation as well.

The best type of bait to use on Bass Lake for crappies is a small minnow. Moreover, anglers should be equipped to handle the problems that arise with the crappie's paper-thin mouth. "When you bring them to the boat, net them," said Ed Lewandowski, who has fished for crappies for 50 years.

"An average-size net will work just fine. You'll need the net to keep the hook from tearing out of the fish's mouth," Lewandowski said. Remember that while fish are still in the water, their buoyancy reduces their weight; once they are lifted out of the water, their full weight will be on your line, and the resulting downward force can tear the hook out.

Bob Robertson is the fisheries biologist for District 1. He said the crappie fishing on Bass Lake is good. Robertson said that crappie numbers in his district have been rather cyclic, and that Bass Lake is on the upward part of the cycle as per the 2000 survey.

The water in Bass Lake is generally very murky. This is due to the motorboat activity on the lake and wind action. To improve their chances for success, anglers should use bright- colored jigs with bright-colored tails tipped with minnows or bee moths. Jigs with blades in the 1/32-ounce size work the best. Silver-colored bladed jigs work better in murky water because of their greater visibility. Bladed jigs also emit sound as they slice through the water, which attracts predatory fish.

Another good place to try for crappies on Bass Lake is Muck Shores, which is located on the northeast end of the lake. This area is a crappie-spawning area with a depth of about 5 feet. Look specifically for woody structure or brush because these are the spots that crappies like the most. Also, look for stemmed aquatic vegetation.

Bass Lake has a boat ramp that is easy to get to. This ramp is situated just south and east of the intersection of U.S. Route 35 and state Route (SR) 10.