Well now, let me tell ya somethin’ ’bout crappie fishin’ in Oregon. Them little fish, they’re real popular, ya know? A lot of folks call ’em panfish ’cause they ain’t big enough to be anythin’ fancy, but they sure do taste good when you fry ’em up in a skillet. They’re small enough to fit right in a frying pan, and that’s what makes ’em so special. In Oregon, we got two kinds of ’em—black crappie and white crappie—and both of ’em are a real treat to catch.
Now, if you’re thinkin’ about headin’ out to catch some crappies, there’s a few good places ya might wanna know about. One of the best spots is Brownlee Reservoir, right up there near the Idaho border. A lotta folks go up there for the crappie fishin’, ’cause it’s a nice big spot with plenty of water. Another place folks like is Prineville Reservoir. It’s a little smaller but still has plenty of crappie in it. Real quiet and peaceful there, too. If ya like fishin’ in the quiet, that’s a good place to go.
Then, there’s Willow Creek Reservoir. Now, this one’s a good one for crappie fishin’ too. But I gotta tell ya, they got rules. You can only catch so many bass there—only five a day, and only one can be over 15 inches. But the crappie? Well, you can catch up to 25 crappie a day, so you can sure load up your cooler with a good mess of fish if you’re lucky.
But here’s the thing: the best time to go fishin’ for crappie is in the spring. Yup, that’s when they start their little fishy dance, spawnin’ and all that. The weather starts warmin’ up, the ice starts meltin’, and them crappies come closer to shore. You can usually catch ’em pretty easy from late March to May. During that time, they’re swimmin’ in shallower waters, so it’s a good time to throw in your line.
Spring crappie fishin’ in Oregon is somethin’ to look forward to every year. Them fish are just about everywhere, and if you know where to look, you can haul in a nice bunch for dinner. I remember back in the day, my old husband used to take me fishin’ in the spring. We’d load up the boat and go down to the Fern Ridge Reservoir near Eugene, and we’d catch a mess of crappie there. It was always a good time, and we’d bring home enough for a good fish fry. Sometimes we’d even take a little picnic, sit by the water, and eat our fish right there!
Now, I ain’t gonna lie, there’s a few things ya gotta watch out for when fishin’ for crappie. First, make sure ya got the right bait. They like minnows or small jigs, somethin’ light that’ll wiggle in the water. They ain’t too picky, but ya gotta keep yer bait movin’ if you want ‘em to bite. And don’t forget to check the fishing regulations. They got some rules in place to keep the fish population healthy, so always make sure you’re fishin’ by the book. That way, you can keep fishin’ for years to come.
So if you’re thinkin’ ’bout tryin’ your hand at crappie fishin’ in Oregon, now’s the time to get your gear ready. Whether you’re headin’ to Brownlee, Prineville, or even Fern Ridge, just remember spring’s the best time to go. The crappies are closer to shore, and they’re ready to bite. Grab your pole, get your minnows, and hit the water. Who knows, you might just come back with a nice haul!
Tags:[crappie fishing, Oregon fishing, Brownlee Reservoir, Prineville Reservoir, Willow Creek Reservoir, spring fishing, crappie spawning, fishing tips, Fern Ridge Reservoir, crappie fishing season]