Best crappie lakes in the South: 12 lakes to fish
The best crappie lakes in the South: Kentucky Lake, Lake Okeechobee and Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) and more, with where to start and how the fish move.
Crappie school up on brush, timber and docks, and the South is full of lakes with all three. Here are 12 lakes where crappie are on record, with where to start on each.
The lakes
| Lake | State | Also holds |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Lake | Kentucky | largemouth bass, catfish, smallmouth bass |
| Lake Okeechobee | Florida | largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish |
| Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) | Georgia | striped bass, largemouth bass, catfish |
| Lake Guntersville | Alabama | largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill |
| Lake Cumberland | Kentucky | striped bass, smallmouth bass, walleye |
| Sam Rayburn Reservoir | Texas | largemouth bass, catfish, white bass |
| Toledo Bend Reservoir | Texas | largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill |
| Lake Barkley | Kentucky | largemouth bass, catfish, white bass |
| Lake Hartwell | South Carolina | striped bass, spotted bass, largemouth bass |
| Lake Texoma | Oklahoma | striped bass, largemouth bass, catfish |
| Lake Murray | South Carolina | striped bass, largemouth bass, catfish |
| Kerr Lake | Virginia | largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish |
1. Kentucky Lake, Kentucky
Kentucky Lake spreads over 160,000 acres. Crappie, largemouth bass, catfish and smallmouth bass are the draw. It goes down to about 75 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start.
Kentucky Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
2. Lake Okeechobee, Florida
At 467,000 acres, Lake Okeechobee is a huge piece of water. Crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish are the draw. At about 12 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring.
Lake Okeechobee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
3. Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill), Georgia
Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) spreads over 71,100 acres. Crappie, striped bass, largemouth bass and catfish are the draw. At about 180 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.
Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
4. Lake Guntersville, Alabama
At some 69,000 acres, Lake Guntersville is a huge piece of water. Crappie, largemouth bass, catfish and bluegill are the draw. It goes down to about 60 ft.
Lake Guntersville today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
5. Lake Cumberland, Kentucky
Lake Cumberland covers 65,500 acres. Crappie, striped bass, smallmouth bass and walleye are the draw. At about 197 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.
Lake Cumberland today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
6. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas
At 114,000 acres of water, Sam Rayburn Reservoir is a huge piece of water. Crappie, largemouth bass, catfish and white bass are the draw. At about 80 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three steep ledges and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.
Sam Rayburn Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
7. Toledo Bend Reservoir, Texas
At 186,000 acres of water, Toledo Bend Reservoir is a huge piece of water. Crappie, largemouth bass, catfish and bluegill are the draw. It goes down to about 110 ft.
Toledo Bend Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
8. Lake Barkley, Kentucky
Lake Barkley covers 57,900 acres of water. Crappie, largemouth bass, catfish and white bass are the draw.
Lake Barkley today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
9. Lake Hartwell, South Carolina
At some 56,000 acres, Lake Hartwell is a huge piece of water. The fish here are crappie, striped bass, spotted bass and largemouth bass. The deepest water is around 185 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.
Lake Hartwell today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
10. Lake Texoma, Oklahoma
Lake Texoma covers 89,000 acres. The fish here are crappie, striped bass, largemouth bass and catfish. The lake bed gives you two sheltered coves and a wind-blown bank to work.
Lake Texoma today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
11. Lake Murray, South Carolina
Lake Murray covers 50,000 acres. Crappie, striped bass, largemouth bass and catfish are the draw. It goes down to about 190 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.
Lake Murray today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
12. Kerr Lake, Virginia
Kerr Lake spreads over 50,000 acres. Expect crappie, largemouth bass, striped bass and catfish. It goes down to about 100 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.
Kerr Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
Crappie through the year in the South
Use these as a starting point and let the water temperature decide: the lake pages show it every morning.
- Spring: Spawn time. Shallow brush and docks in coves.
- Summer: Hot water. Deeper brush and bridge pilings, early or at night.
- Fall: Scattered after the spawn. Try docks and brush at mid depth.
- Winter: Schooled on deeper brush piles. Fish small jigs slowly.
Questions
What is the best crappie lake in the South?
Kentucky Lake in Kentucky is our first pick; Lake Okeechobee and Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill) are close behind.
When is the best time to fish for crappie?
Spawn time. Shallow brush and docks in coves. Scattered after the spawn. Try docks and brush at mid depth.
Your lake every morning
Water temperature, level, wind and bite times on your phone.
