Small Lake Crappie Fishing in Summer: Best Spots and Baits to Catch Slabs

Learn how to find crappies during hot weather by targeting docks, timber, and vegetation and choose lures that trigger strikes.

Chasing summer time crappie can be one of the best bites of the year! | Kaleb Brown

Chasing crappies is one of my favorite things to do. Crappie are abundant in lakes all over the country, aggressive biters, great sport on light tackle, and excellent table fare. From ice fishing to the shallow spawning flats of spring to the blazing summer heat, they're always on the list of potential species to target.

Why Small Lakes are Best for Summer Crappie Fishing

The black crappies of the north can be found in most of our warm water fisheries. The population and size class of fish may vary from lake to lake, but I’ve noticed some of the smallest waters tend to hold the biggest crappies.

Most of my summer fishing trips only last a couple hours to maybe half-a-day as I don’t tolerate peak-summer sun very well. But these small lakes offer a unique opportunity to quickly dial in exactly where the crappies live. Plus, no long run time, less recreational traffic, and less angling pressure, are even more reasons to focus on small lakes for big summer crappie. 

A pair of stud summertime crappie my good friend, Cody Baker, 'scoped up during a recent outing | Kaleb Brown

Best Spots to Find Crappies in the Heat

I like to break small lakes down into four potential areas that might hold the schools. While these cover types vary from lake to lake, most lakes have all of them or at least two to three. Sometimes there are fish in multiple locations, but most of the time, once I have identified where one school of crappie is hanging out, the rest of the fish will be in very similar areas.

1. Fish the Docks for Shade and Structure

Boat docks and floating swim platforms provide prime summer crappie habitat. | Envato | wirestock | W8QBNJD

Docks are one of the best places to find schools of crappies and are typically a starting point for me when I hit the water. This man-made structure offers plenty of shade, cover and ambush spots which attracts both prey and predators. The only thing better than a big dock with multiple slips and walkways are the swim docks floating 10 yards out in front of them.

2. Target Laydowns and Submerged Timber

Fallen trees attract all kinds of prey, offer shade and cover, and often hold crappie. | Envato | mamalion2 | C993MCA

Most lakes offer some kind of natural cover such as laydowns. These fallen trees—some that you can see jutting out into the lake from shore and some that are fully submerged and usually located using sonar— attract all kinds of prey, offer shade and cover, and often hold fish. Make sure to stay far off the target and make long casts to avoid spooking the fish.

3. Scan the Deep Basins with Electronics

A school of big crappies sitting just off to the side of a floating dock. | Kaleb Brown

If fish aren't positioning on docks or wood, I often relocate to the deepest part of the lake and use my Hummingbird LakeMaster Premium VX mapping, Forward Facing Sonar, and 2D imaging to see if I can locate the fish suspended on bait.

4. Fish Vegetation Edges for Active Schools

Most small lakes have some sort of weed edge which can hold schools of summer crappie. | Dreamstime.com | Waeske | 393379546

If I don't locate them on any of the types of cover mentioned above, I head to the vegetation. Most crappie lakes have some kind of vegetation, from submerged grasses to expansive pad fields, and can hold schools of crappie. The grass offers shade and plenty of foraging opportunities, attracting bug life and bait fish.

Utilizing my electronics I search for little differences that might position a school of crappie—a clump of grass that sticks up higher than the rest or a bit of vegetation that is isolated from the bulk of the growth can be prime locations.

Best Baits and Rigs for Summertime Slabs

I rely on just two different presentations this time of year—a float with a small jig head with soft plastic or a heavier jig head with a minnow-style bait.

1. Slip Bobber Setup for Shallower Fish

A big crappie fooled by the tried and true float + soft plastic combo. | Kaleb Brown

Crappies almost always feed upwards, so suspending a jig and soft plastic under a float allows the bait to hang above their heads, tempting hungry crappies to come and take a look.

• Thill float
• 1/16oz jig head
• Yamamoto Scope Shad

Pro Tip: I always cut the 3” Scope Shad down to about 2” for a perfect fit that creates the profile of a bug or minnow.

2. Jig and Minnow Presentation for Deeper Crappies

Baits: (Top) Yamamoto Scope Shad - (Middle) Roboworm Alive Shad Baby Bluegill color - (Bottom) Roboworm Alive Shad M.M. II color. | Kaleb Brown

If the fish are deeper, I will take the float off and just cast the jig.

• 3” Roboworm Alive Shad
• 1/16oz or 1/8oz head

Pro Tip: I switch between the M.M III color on cloudy, darker days, and Baby Bluegill or Hologram Shad on clear, sunny days.

Key Takeaways for Summer Crappie Fishing

Giant crappies from a small basin lake that I had the pleasure of guiding on a few summers ago. | Kaleb Brown

• Focus on small lakes to find crappie faster.
• Depending on what the lake offers, check docks, then laydowns, then deep basins, and finally vegetation edges for schools.
• Fish a jig and soft plastic under a float for suspended fish and slightly heavier jig and minnow for deeper crappies.
• Quality electronics, including forward-facing sonar will help find suspended fish.
• Once you’ve located fish, adjust bait color to match weather, water clarity and fish mood for more bites.