If the lake is clear, the crappie will normally be in deeper water. If the lake is stained, look for the fish in shallower water. Any of the lake's brushy areas near a marked depth change should hold good numbers of baitfish, which in turn will attract schools of crappie.

Myers said the area around the intake tower of the dam is a good spot to fish, as well as the area north of the dam. Myers believes that most of the lake's crappie spawn in April, but occasionally, when water temperatures have not warmed sufficiently, the spawn can occur in early May.

Most spring crappie anglers fish small minnows, with some anglers using slip-corks to control their bait depth. For artificial bait users, the best choice is jigs ranging in weight from 1/16 to 1/32 ounce in white, chartreuse, and yellow colors. Anglers sometimes tip their jigs with a small minnow for added attraction.

Longmire's crappie anglers are allowed to keep only 15 crappie with a minimum length of 10 inches. A $2 daily permit is required.

WES WATKINS
Last but not least on our list is Wes Watkins Reservoir -- one the state's newest lakes, located just east of Oklahoma City near Harrah. This 1,142-acre lake received unwanted attention when, a few years after its opening in 1999. it was hit hard with largemouth bass virus. The lake is now showing signs of rebounding. Though the bass suffered, the crappie were unaffected, and the slab fishing seems to get better every year.

When the lake filled, it incorporated some established ponds that had solid, mature populations of both crappie and bass. The partially timbered lake is a great one for catch springtime slabs on both minnows and jigs.

The ODWC's Garland Wright, who oversees Wes Watkins, believes that the lake is a great place for anglers. He says that when the lake first opened, it was intended to be a catch-and-release-only lake, but that reasoning has since changed, and now anglers can keep fish other than largemouth bass.

"Crappie fishing in April can be very good if the lake level is up," said Wright. "The water level has fluctuated in the past due to heavy usage coupled with drought conditions."

Mary Fowler has worked long enough at the lake office at Wes Watkins to know the type of crappie limits the lake produces. In fact, part of Fowler's job is to sample anglers to find out what they catch and where they fish.

Fowler once witnessed a man bringing in a 4-pound crappie, and attests to having seen several other crappie that weighed 3 pounds or better. "We have some huge crappie," she stated, "but some days they can be tough to find."

Albert Baldwin lives nearby, and takes full advantage of that proximity by fishing the lake three or four times a week almost year 'round. Known as "Paw-Paw" by lake regulars, the retiree normally fishes the lake with minnows. He says that when they're biting, he catches some nice crappie.

Baldwin shared part of his lake knowledge by suggesting some good spots for crappie anglers to try.

"Most of the nice crappie are caught off of the main roadbed or off of the timbered area west of the roadbed. Most anglers fish by boat, and most of them fish with minnows and small jigs. The lake's shoreline is very shallow, so most angling is done from boats."

Wes Watkins anglers and boaters are required to pay an access fee of $6 a boat and $6 to fish. This may seem outrageous to some anglers, but some of the fish caught at Wes Watkins are outrageous as well. The lake limit on crappie is 37.

I rate this lake an excellent choice for springtime crappie fishing. A little advice: Fishing here's a less crowded proposition on weekdays.

Next time you go to Wes Watkins, don't be surprised if you run in to Paw-Paw sacking up a stringer of slabs!

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
To book a fishing trip with Bob Myers Guide service, call (405) 238-2243.