Michigan is an angler’s paradise. The best crappie fishing in Michigan could rival any state in the country.
Whether you’re a seasoned angler just looking for a new spot or a newer angler looking to get into catching slabs, we’ll show you Michigan’s perfect waters for you.
Picturesque lakes harboring the perfect habitat for slab-sized crappie run from the Upper Peninsula (UP) to the bottom of the Lower Peninsula.
You’ll find both black and white crappie in Michigan. Some anglers know them as calico bass.
Springtime brings these feisty fish to the shallows to spawn, making this the prime time to catch good numbers of big crappies.
Bring along the family to introduce the kids to these easy-to-catch panfish. You’ll turn them into lifelong fishing addicts, so be prepared!
Michigan’s Best Crappie Lakes
The diversity in lakes throughout Michigan makes this state an angler’s dream. Whether catching pike, muskies, salmon, or steelhead, there’s something for everyone.
Specifically, the crappie production here is unrivaled and often overlooked. Give them a shot!
Belleville Lake
Many panfish anglers regard Belleville Lake as the best lake in Michigan for chasing crappie.
With over 1,250 acres and the perfect bottom structure chock full of trees, bushes, and weed beds, Belleville has a thriving crappie population.
Close to home for many, in the Detroit suburb of Belleville, this lake has easy access to everything you’ll need. Lodging, several tackle shops, and dining are next to the lake.
The max depth of Belleville is roughly 30 feet, though it’s mostly shallower. Be careful on the west end in a boat. The east end holds deeper water with plenty of submerged cover holding decent-sized crappie. This area is best from a boat.
Go south at the Rawsonville Road exit about a half mile or so on the left side as soon as you go over the bridge, and you’ll find the West Launch.
There’s good fishing around the bridge and plenty of cover for crappie along the shoreline here. The west side is prime for bank anglers.
Weekends on Belleville Lake get super busy, so hit it during the week.
Tippy Dam Pond
Tippy Dam Pond is a near-perfect crappie fishery.
The 1,540-acre lake has all the submerged structure you could ask for. Stumps, islands, submerged timber, humps, points, and plenty of shoreline make prime habitat for crappie.
These panfish are among the most prolific fish populations in the lake.
The average crappie in Tippy Dam Pond is between 9 and 13 inches, meaning there are decent-sized fish to catch while you’re out there.
The ice isn’t always the safest due to the submerged timber, so it’s best to wait till ice-off to target crappie here.
Hit the pond’s south-facing bays and coves. And the area where the old river channel reaches the mouth of the bay is also excellent.
Suspending a minnow or a white marabou jig under a slip-bobber will help you avoid too many snags and should provide a great day’s catch.
You’ll find plenty of camping around the lake. There are not a lot of services in the area, though Manistee and Cadillac are 30-40 minutes away in opposite directions.
If you time your perch-fishing trip right, you can also take advantage of some of the best steelhead fishing in Michigan (and the world?) on the Manistee River below the dam.
Union Lake
Union Lake is one of the most productive crappie lakes in Michigan.
Crappie fishing can be epic in this lake, particularly during the spring and fall seasons when crappies are most active.
Springtime finds them in the shallower sections in 4 to 10 feet of water, while they move deeper during the warmer months.
This pattern works perfectly for crappies in Union Lake, as the lake varies between 10 and 20 feet in depth and has plenty of submerged structure.
Crappies are most active during low-light periods, though they can still be caught throughout the day, particularly in deeper waters or shaded areas during hot summer months. Overcast days are the best.
Target the brush piles and submerged timber around the lake for the best chance at some fat slabs. The lake routinely has catches of over 12 inches, with bigger crappie showing up from time to time.
These crappie are not picky eaters and can be caught on small jigs, soft plastic grubs, and minnows. Worms always do the trick.
Find the proper depth for the fish and slowly jig your bait. You should quickly find success.
After a day of epic crappie fishing, head over near the dam for a shot at some big catfish. The evening hours are exceptional for cats on Union Lake.
Coldwater is the closest urban area with all the amenities, though Union City has most of what you might need. There are lodging options in Union City and nearby Athens.
Lake St. Clair
Lake St. Clair is well known for its bass fishing, but don’t overlook this place for its crappie as well! A short drive from Detroit puts you on one of the country’s best fishing lakes.
Lake St. Clair boasts abundant cover. Weed beds, underwater structure, drop-offs, and plenty of shallow flats deliver prime fishing spots that are likely to hold a lot of crappie.
Spring and fall are typically the best seasons for crappie fishing in Lake St. Clair. As the water temperature rises in the spring, crappie become more active and move closer to the shallows.
Target them in the shallower flats and weed beds with minnows, nightcrawlers, and jigs. They’ll crush a live minnow.
Once fall hits, and the water starts cooling, crappie move back to the shallower areas to feed up before winter. Try white, chartreuse, yellow, and silver lures to mimic the bait fish in the lake.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with local fishing regulations and remember that the border of Canada runs through the middle of Lake St. Clair, so stay on the Michigan side with your state license.
The area has plenty of campgrounds, RV parks, restaurants, lodges, and hotels. If you left anything at home, you could easily find it nearby.
Whitmore Lake
Whitmore Lake is another excellent crappie spot that gets overlooked, even though it’s a short drive north of Ann Arbor.
Bluegill are popular here, so panfish fans may skip crappie get skipped in their favor.
The best crappie fishing here is from shore. The shoreline offers excellent submerged cover for crappie, so there’s no need for a boat. Shore access is very good at Whitmore.
Typically speaking, crappie transition to shallower waters for spawning each spring, making them easier to catch. During the fall, they return to the shallows to feed before winter.
At Whitmore, they tend to stay along the shoreline year-round.
Live baits like minnows and worms are great choices. Small jigs in white or chartreuse, in 1/16 or 1/32 ounces, are also effective. Hit them on a cloudy day for the best action.
Ann Arbor has everything you’ll need for a productive trip. The lake is in the town of Whitmore Lake and has access to bait shops, lodging, and other necessities.
Hamlin Lake
Hamlin Lake, at 5,000 acres, is basically two lakes in one. The upper section is shallow and weedy, while the lower lake is deeper and has a ton of structure.
You can find big crappie in both sections depending on the time of year.
Hit one of the bayous located along the east shoreline of the lower lake.
North, South, and Middle bayous are shallow and warm up first in the spring.
North Bayou, the largest of the trio and open to the main lake, is filled with stumps and weeds.
Channels under N. Lakeshore Drive connect the Middle and South bayous to the main lake. The Middle Bayou has many stumps, whereas the South Bayou has more weed beds. Both have private boat docks.
Later in the summer, crappies will suspend along the drop-off near The Narrows and off Ludington State Park. Drop your bait to around 8 to 9 feet in 12 feet of water.
Hamlin Lake also is among Michigan’s top ice fishing lakes, with crappie among the fish you can pull through a frozen hole.
Ludington State Park has access to the lake along with a boat ramp. Including the state park, there are several campgrounds and resorts around the lake, most with amenities.
Bait shops are easy to find here, and dining is available at one of the local restaurants.
Pere Marquette Lake
Just south of Hamlin Lake, Pere Marquette Lake has that dark tannic-stained look that crappies love.
Located in the town of Ludington, this water gets almost no action until salmon and steelhead season. During the summer months, you’ll rarely see another angler.
Early spring is the best time here, with giant slabs in the 16-inch range showing up. Catching crappies 10 to 12 inches is commonplace.
Hit the shallow reeds and bulrushes found on the south end. The crappies collect there right after ice-out to chase schools of minnows and to spawn.
Use a slip-bobber and a small jig tipped with a minnow. Work the bobber through the reeds while allowing the jig to fall when it reaches an opening in the vegetation.
Late in the spring and summer, try around the old slab docks on the west side of the lake, near the old pilings and docks off Peter Copeyon Park and the Ludington Yacht Club, and behind the car ferry.
Jigs and minnows are deadly combinations.
Ludington has everything you’ll need for the trip. There’s camping, marinas, lodging, and dining right at the lake.
Catch More Crappie
Read about the best lures, baits, timing and tactics in our complete guide to crappie fishing.