"On the other hand, there was considerably less fishing pressure on Rough during the spring because some of the marinas and ramps were closed. So for 2009, there may be a larger number of the 9- to 11-inch fish that were able to spawn and survive. Can more fish spawning offset the less-than-ideal spawning conditions? That remains to be seen."

Nonetheless, anglers should find excellent fishing conditions this year, with plenty of fish above legal harvest size. As at Nolin, most of the population here is made up of white crappie, with a few black crappie in the mix. Both species have a 9-inch minimum-size limit.

To find spring crappie, some likely areas at Rough River Lake include Tools Creek and Walters Creek on the south fork. Calamese Creek and the Upper River are also good. In the spring, coves with timber are the best.

Areas adjacent to the main lake channel and the large creeks will hold a lot of fish, too. Many anglers on Rough will troll or drift these areas while focusing on any structure they find with onboard electronics.

Jigs, minnows or a combination of the two are the most-used baits with trolling, but small crankbaits can be effective also. Some people will spider-rig several rods and push the baits into available structure.

FISHTRAP LAKE
This eastern Kentucky water isn't as large as the others we've looked at, but it nonetheless has very good numbers of white crappie.

KDFWR fisheries biologist Kevin Frey has rated the fishery as "good" and indicates that plenty of fish are 9 inches long or even longer.

Some real slabs are also available, but just not as plentiful.

The crappies begin moving shallow in March and into April in preparation of the spawn. Early in the spring, anglers will often drift or troll with minnows or tube jigs, targeting the edges of the main channel from the middle to the lower end of the lake.

Mudflats near the main lake channel, especially where structure is present, are also good in early spring.

Frey's sampling suggested targeting spring crappies on these shallow-water areas of the lake. He said that during last spring, a good number of crappie between 12 and 15 inches were in the area of the lake from Jonican Branch to Grapevine Branch.

During April, the lake is allowed to fill up to summer pool, which raises it by 22 feet. If this occurs quickly, it can make crappie less likely to move near the shoreline right away. You can still find fish shallow, but suspended on flats near the main lake channel. After the lake has held its water level consistently for a few days, along with warmer weather, the papermouth will venture into shoreline cover.

Things typically change after April. In May, the male crappie will still be with the nests, guarding the young fry, while the females will typically be suspended at the same depth but away from the shoreline, in open water or on the flats. Anglers will need to try different locations and methods until they find the fish.