“I only use minnows and a No. 2 TruTurn Hook in this situation,” Peterson said. “I often put three or four split shot under a slip-bobber because I want it to drop really fast when I get it to the right spot. I’ll hook just one minnow through the eye and then drop it down.”

These fish average 11 inches, and spring is the best time to catch them. Some people love the Wolf for its fall bite, but spring is the best time to come in with a lot of 13-inch fish.

GENEVA LAKE
In southeast Wisconsin, Geneva is a very clear lake. While it can get churned up later in the year, at ice-out you can see down 20 feet. Veteran guide and television host Jim Tostrud fishes this lake every year for monster crappies.

“I caught a 20-inch crappie on Geneva, and I’ve caught four fish that were 18 inches or bigger,” Tostrud said. “This is really a phenomenal fishery.”

However, experienced anglers know that Geneva can be a hard lake to learn.

“The best way to approach crappies on Geneva,” said Tostrud, “is to look for structure. I usually like to sight-fish for crappies along the docks or cribs in shallow water, and shallow for Geneva is 8 feet. When the water temperature is between the mid-50s and low 60s, I’ll move slowly along the bank while looking for fish. Once I find them, I cast with a jig and minnow.”

The crappies move shallower sooner on Delavan than on Geneva because Delavan warms up faster. And in the spring, Delavan is as clear as Geneva. Docks, weed edges, humps and points are good places to start.

Tostrud prefers a Yummy hair jig with a chartreuse head, black body and chartreuse tail, and tipped with a wax worm or minnow. Another good bait to try is the Triple Tip Grub in red with a chartreuse tail or in motor oil color. Choose a 1/64-ounce or 1/32-ounce jig. “The trick is you should fish at night or in low-light conditions,” he said. “A little cloud cover will keep the bite going.”

But Tostrud also has an unusual tactic for crappies. He likes to troll for them, which is legal on this lake and many others in southern Wisconsin.

“I usually find the fish on the edge of the weeds, and then I set long lines out the back at least 50 feet,” Tostrud said. “I’ll troll a minnow at 1.2 mph off my trolling motor. If I go through a school of fish without a hit, I’ll adjust my depth with a second jig or a split shot, then troll through again.”

You can contact Tostrud at www.wildlifevisions.com or (262) 656-1726.

DELAVAN LAKE
The crappies move shallower sooner on Delavan than on Geneva because Delavan warms up faster. And in the spring, Delavan is as clear as Geneva. Docks, weed edges, humps and points are good places to start.

“I do more float-fishing on Delavan,” Tostrud said. “I hit the visible weed pockets and can turn big numbers. The average size is 10 inches, but the fish are abundant.”

Delavan has little channels that warm up faster than the main lake, but most of these channels are dotted with private homes, so you’ll need to access this area from a boat. If you want to fish from shore or from the docks, be sure to be polite and obtain permission first.