Want to land some bragging-size crappie? Maybe even break the current IGFA all-tackle record? Then you’d be wise to fish the lakes rated by Fishhound.com as the best in the country for oversized slabs.
Fishhound compiled its 50 Best Crappie Lakes list after consulting with a host of industry experts, including veteran outdoor writers; professional crappie anglers; companies like Blakemore and Southern Pro; and organizations such as Crappie USA, Crappie Masters and Crappie Nation.
Chickamauga Lake is No. 14 on the prestigious list, well ahead of several other well-known lakes across the country.
“We devoted considerable time and resources to develop this list based on feedback from some of the most experienced and knowledgeable crappie fishermen throughout the U.S.,” Rick Patri, Fishhound.com’s vice president of operations, said. “These are bodies of water that earned well-deserved reputations for producing big numbers of fish, as well as some real monsters.”
The long-standing IGFA all-tackle world record for white crappie stands at 5 pounds, 3 ounces—a fish caught in Mississippi back in 1957. The all-tackle record for black crappie is a 5-pound fish caught from a private Missouri farm pond in 2006. However, records are made to be broken. And, when larger crappie are caught, chances are those fish will come from a lake on Fishhound’s top 50 list.