What is the best crappie lake in the Northeast?

Cayuga Lake in New York is our first pick; Black Lake and Chautauqua Lake are close behind.

When is the best time to fish for crappie?

Schooled on deeper brush piles. Fish small jigs slowly. Active. Brush piles and docks in 8 to 15 ft.

Best crappie lakes in the Northeast: 8 lakes to fish

Spring spawn in the shallows, winter schools on deep brush: these lakes in the Northeast produce crappie all year. Here are 8 lakes where crappie are on record, with where to start on each.

The lakes

Lake	State	Also holds
Cayuga Lake	New York	lake trout, trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, norther
Black Lake	New York	largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, bl
Chautauqua Lake	New York	walleye, muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow pe
Shenango River Lake	Pennsylvania	muskie, striped bass, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bas
Lake Arthur	Pennsylvania	northern pike, largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, muskie, w
Pymatuning Reservoir	Pennsylvania	walleye, muskie, largemouth bass, catfish, yellow perch, blu
Winnisquam Lake	New Hampshire	trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, catfish
Ossipee Lake	New Hampshire	largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, lake trout, trout, yellow

1. Cayuga Lake, New York

Cayuga Lake spreads over some 42,800 acres. You will find it next to Union Springs. Crappie, lake trout, trout and smallmouth bass are the draw. At about 435 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Cayuga Lake is the longest of New York's Finger Lakes.

Cayuga Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Black Lake, New York

Black Lake covers 7,860 acres of water. The lake is near Ogdensburg. It holds crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye. At about 40 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Black Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Chautauqua Lake, New York

Chautauqua Lake is a natural lake of 13,400 acres. It lies right by Lakewood. It holds crappie, walleye, muskie and largemouth bass. At about 44 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Chautauqua Lake drains south via the Chadakoin River toward the Allegheny River rather than toward the Great Lakes.

Chautauqua Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Shenango River Lake, Pennsylvania

Shenango River Lake is a reservoir of 3,560 acres. You will find it within an easy drive of Youngstown (about 15 miles). Shenango Dam holds it on the Shenango River. Crappie, muskie, striped bass and walleye are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Shenango River Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoir on the Shenango River near the Ohio border.

Shenango River Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Arthur, Pennsylvania

Lake Arthur is a reservoir of 3,220 acres. The lake is about 1.5 miles southeast of Prospect. Crappie, northern pike, largemouth bass and catfish are the draw. Lake Arthur is the centerpiece of Moraine State Park and was formed by damming Muddy Creek.

Lake Arthur today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Pymatuning Reservoir, Pennsylvania

Pymatuning Reservoir covers 17,000 acres. You will find it within an easy drive of Youngstown (about 29 miles). Crappie, walleye, muskie and largemouth bass are the draw. At about 35 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Pymatuning is Pennsylvania's largest lake and straddles the Pennsylvania-Ohio state line.

Pymatuning Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Winnisquam Lake, New Hampshire

Winnisquam Lake covers some 4,210 acres. The lake is next to Laconia. The fish here are crappie, trout, lake trout and smallmouth bass. At about 155 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Lake Winnisquam is part of the Winnipesaukee River chain of lakes and offers both warmwater bass and coldwater trout fishing.

Winnisquam Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Ossipee Lake, New Hampshire

At 3,260 acres of water, Ossipee Lake is a good-sized lake. You will find it near Freedom. It holds crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and lake trout. The deepest water is around 73 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Ossipee Lake supports both warmwater bass fishing and a coldwater lake trout fishery.

Ossipee Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Crappie through the year in the Northeast

The water temperature on the day matters more than the calendar: each lake page on LakeScope shows today's surface temperature and how the fish should react to it.

Spring: Schooled on deeper brush piles. Fish small jigs slowly.
Summer: Scattered after the spawn. Try docks and brush at mid depth.
Fall: Active. Brush piles and docks in 8 to 15 ft.
Winter: Cold. Tight schools near deep brush and bridges.