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Kansas City, Mo. – Whether they give a gentle tug or a scrappy fight against a fishing rod, crappie are among Missouri’s most popular panfish. Their abundance and tasty fillets attract anglers, too. Learn how to catch crappie when the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) presents a free clinic from 8 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, at the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area in Lee’s Summit.
This program will offer a classroom fishing lesson at MDC’s Kansas City Regional Office, followed by fishing for crappie at the area’s Gopher Lake. Instructor John Rittel, MDC community education assistant, will discuss how to catch crappie in all seasons, what tackle to use, and fishing methods. Then the class will move to Gopher Lake where MDC staff and volunteers will assist participants in fishing for crappie. MDC will provide all tackle, bait, and lures. A fishing permit is not needed to fish for crappie during the class.
Participants must be ages 8 and older. COVID-19 safety precautions will be followed. Registration is required. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4JQ.
Anglers fish for crappie (pronounced “croppie”) in all seasons. But spring is an especially popular time because the fish move into shallow water or alongside sloped banks to spawn. They will readily take lures or bait like jigs and minnows. Many lakes at MDC conservation areas offer crappie fishing. A good way to find crappie fishing spots is MDC’s MO Fishing app for digital devices, https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZJZ. To learn more about crappie fishing in Missouri, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4JA.
