March 27, 2025

If you’re an anxious angler like me, you can’t wait for ice out to head for your favorite crappie lake to wet a line in open water for the season’s first time. Those just after ice out trips sometimes produce good fishing, but at other times the fish seem to be non-existent. The fact is that as the water warms and weather stabilizes during spring, the crappie bite usually gets better.

As a fishing TV show host and fishing educator, one of my “jobs” is to help people find and catch more fish. With that in mind, I am constantly researching and experimenting with cutting edge fishing techniques, staying on the lookout for the latest in technological gadgets, and keeping a watchful eye for good bites that materialize across the Midwest.