Lake Scugog Crappie fishing, Is it too late in the season?

I'm I too late for crappie fishing on Lake Scugog? I've tried another lake I found crappie last year but haven't found them there, I assume water temp is still too cold cause of the late warm up.

There are two main periods when anglers fish for spring crappie on the bog. The first right after ice out and then a later one, once water warms up. You missed the first prime time, second one I assume is next span of calm and sunny days. BUT in truth, I stopped going to Scugog for early crappie, it's very hit and miss now, the lake seems to be constantly stained and murky and I like fishing for crappie in lakes where they can see my presentations. The locals still fish it religiously I assume -- and are catching, but it's very hush, where, when and hows..

Thanks for the info. Its been a cool spring, went to my usual crappie lake and haven't found them in the usual places, but its also been very windy on days I can get out to fish.

Except for Balsam lake, most of the good size crappie in the Kawarthas have spawned and moved to a bit deeper water. The crappie will be at the first drop off away from the shallow water. Find the 4 to 6 feet areas of water depth where you have caught them before. Where ever it drops off to deeper water in those spots, is where the crappie will be. Now the bigger crappie will be resting now with not much energy. They still feed, but a slower presentation of the bait will work the best. By next week, that's when I am going out, everything will be back to normal, and the crappie will be as hungry as the walleye. During the day both species will be near the new weeds in 10 to 12 feet of water. At night 4 to 8 feet of water. Sorry I don't fish Scucog, but this approach should work there as well as the rest of the Kawarthas.

I thought I would give Scogog a try since it is only a 45min drive from my house. Didn't want to do another 1 1/2hr drive just to get skunked while I wait for walleye opener.

Today went out to Rice lake for Crappie , and found bubcuss. I think I am going to completely put a big X on all the lakes east of the 400. Last year the Kawarthas were an absolute bust and I doubt it’s going to better this year.

Today went out to Rice lake for Crappie , and found bubcuss. I think I am going to completely put a big X on all the lakes east of the 400. Last year the Kawarthas were an absolute bust and I doubt it’s going to better this year.

I am decent at fishing for Pike, Bass, Trout, and Perch, but I am having trouble finding the crappies from my boat. I used to catch them from shore in April 15 years ago.

Last week, when I went out, the water temperature was around 55 degrees, but I read that crappies usually spawn when the water temperature is between 65-68 degrees.

I am assuming it is still too early in the season to catch them?

It's never too early or too late to catch crappie in March, April, or May. After the ice goes out it's not about water temperature, it is only about water levels. This year for example the water level was too low around mid March. So I fished in 10 to 15 feet of water in the canoe and found the crappie there. Next time out was the end of March and fished the shallow water and found hundreds of bluegill, but no crappie that day. The next time was mid April and found the crappie in shallower water. The next time was a week after and the crappie were a bit deeper again. There is a spot on Balsam that has produced crappie year after year. Sometimes the crappie are shallow and sometimes they are deeper, it all depends on the water levels. Many times I have fished for crappie multiple days in a row, in the exact same spot. For example, day 1 and 2 the crappie were there by the hundreds. Day 3 and 4 there was nothing there because of a few inch change in the water level. Then day 5 and 6 the crappie were back because the water came up again. Some anglers think you just show up where you caught crappie in the past, and the fish will be there again and again. Doesn't work that way, and if it did there would be no more fish, because they would all be caught. If fishing was easy, everyone would do it. As for spawning crappie, it's has already started in the Kawarthas, and some crappie have already finished their spawn. I don't fish for spawning crappie, but the magic number is not 65-68 as you have read. Every lake is different, and each part of a lake is different. Some have much better spawning areas than others. For example, Cameron and Sturgeon are like bath tubs compared to Balsam. I have seen all species of fish spawning much earlier on Cameron and Sturgeon, compared to Balsam. Keep trying those places you have caught crappie before. The fish will show up at some point, but when they will show up is part of the mystery of the adventure.

Thank you for responding, @crappeeeman. You're absolutely right - it's no surprise they're so interesting to catch. I'm planning to return to the same lake this Saturday to fish for pike, but I'll also give crappie another try.

Went out to Scugog and got skunked for crappie. Only found perch and seen a few bass and carp in the shallow water.