"On a good day," Dodd offered, "anglers can expect to catch 30 to 35 quality fish weighing 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 pounds. An average fish weighs between 1 1/4 and 1 1/2, but you are going to catch some quality 2-pound crappie in a day of fishing. Last year, I caught my big fish on April 25 and it weighed 2 1/4 pounds."

Dodd's favorite area to fish is Bear Creek, which lies partly in Mississippi. Scientific surveys support Dodd's choice.

"Pickwick always seems to produce a fair number of crappie," said Keith Floyd, District I fisheries supervisor, "especially in the Bear Creek embankment. They do very well there. In our creel surveys, we get some of our highest catch rates from that area. In the last two or three years, it has produced many fish from our creel surveys and from Mississippi's surveys -- good-sized crappie too."

Floyd continued by recognizing Shoal Creek, which is on the north bank across from Bear Creek as also providing excellent fishing.

According to Dodd, Pickwick's crappies don't turn on until the water warms to the high 50s. Last year, he said, that occurred on March 21.

"When the water temperature reaches 58 degrees," Dodd explained, "it's time to start long-line trolling in the creek channel at depths of 12 to 14 feet. The channel is like a highway for crappie migrating to the spawning flats. As the water continues to warm in April, the fish move up in the water column until they spawn.

"Typically, start trolling in the middle of the channel early, then move to a ledge, and finally work the flats. Spring is sometimes difficult because of cold fronts. You may catch crappie in 8 to 10 feet of water one day, and then after a front, find they have moved back into deeper water."

Dodd long-line trolls with six rods on the bow and another six on the stern. To provide spacing for his jigs, which are trolled 35 feet behind the boat, Dodd's B'n'M rods vary in length from 10 to 14 feet. Each line has either a single 1/16-ounce jig or tandem 1/32-ounce jigs.

"Anglers can usually locate fish within an hour and begin to form a pattern," Dodd instructed. "That's the reason for starting deep and then moving shallow; you are establishing a pattern. Once you find the pattern, you can catch a lot of fish."

To book a guide trip with Keith Dodd or become a member of the Shoals Area Crappie Association, telephone him at (256) 233-4339. Also, the association is on the Web at www.crappie.com.

JORDAN LAKE
On the lower Coosa River, Jordan Lake is not known as a crappie destination, even though this fertile habitat consistently produces some of the best bass fishing in the state. But, crappie also thrive in Jordan's environment of highly productive water, stable water levels and shad populations.

Earl Ingram of Millbrook fishes competitively for crappie and has unlocked Jordan's secret.

"On a good day," he stated, "two anglers in two hours can put 55 to 60 fish in the boat. My wife and I have had as many as 10 fish on at one time."

The lower Coosa has also produced slab-sized papermouths for Ingram. On a spring day, he caught three fish weighing more than 3 pounds and one 4-pounder.

The key to Ingram's success is manmade cover.