Catching crappies has not been a problem for veteran downstate angler Matt Strobel. Fitting in fishing time in between last year's seemingly endless spring rains was the greatest challenge for this southern Illinois fishing guide.

"It seems like it's rained almost every day," Strobel said during a typical outing last year. "The fishing has been good, but this wet weather sure makes the trips a whole lot less pleasurable."

Strobel, a partner in the SnS Guide Service, had just begun another wet fishing trip by boating his second crappie in nearly as many casts. While the first one was a definite keeper, the second somewhat shorter fish was returned to the water.

"Recently, we've experienced several unusual years," he explained. "Some of our very best fishing typically occurs during the early weeks of winter and we get a second taste of good crappie action once March rolls around."

CRAB ORCHARD LAKE
Williamson County's Crab Orchard Lake has long held the reputation for being among the first Illinois waters to produce good catches of crappies each year. But last year proved to be a bit different. The late spring had delayed the usual good spring crappie bite. Most years, the action heats up in mid-March. Last year, however, the good action didn't turn on until mid-April.

With rain predicted to move into the area by late morning, Strobel wisely chose to begin his fishing day by 8:30 a.m. Past experience had shown how weather predictors have an uncanny ability to accurately forecast undesirable weather conditions. It's only the predictions for good weather where their accuracy rate seems to drops.

Focusing his angling attention to northern shorelines where the sun's warming rays were most effective, Strobel quickly located the papermouths.

"While the water temperatures have been slow in rising, things are now just about perfect for crappie fishing," he said. "The next few weeks will likely bring the peak of the action."

Though the spring bite was already well underway during Strobel's outing, relatively few anglers could be found on this sprawling 6,900-acre lake. It was likely the high odds of rain that kept most anglers from the water.

Crappies were the targeted fish on this trip even though the lake boasts excellent populations of largemouth bass, catfish and various other panfish species.

"These fish will move into the shorelines for a day or two, and then another cold front seems to cause them to back off to deeper water," he said. "Right now, we are casting small slider rigs and catching fish at all depths."

Since it was an unusually cool spring, Strobel's technique was even more productive than other methods. The crappie seemed to be holding at various locations and were coming from depths ranging from a few inches to several feet.

"These fish often stage just outside of their normal spawning areas," he said. "With a few steady days of mild weather, they will move closer to the shorelines to begin the annual spawning ritual."

Crappies were not the only species brought to the boat during Strobel's fishing adventure. Several nice bluegills and a few largemouth bass fell for his tiny blue-green colored jig.

"Since Crab Orchard Lake is slightly clearer than some of the other area lakes, these colors seem to be the most productive," he explained. "Until now, these have been the most productive colors for me."

Strobel's fishing success continued until about 10 a.m., when the skies darkened and the rains returned. Within a few minutes, water was again pouring from the skies.