Montana Crappie Fishing

Crappie Waters In MT

All about fishing for white and black crappie.

Due to the cold water and short growing season, crappie fishing in Montana is limited. A handful of major lakes with crappie include Bighorn Lake, Fort Peck Lake, Fresno Reservoir, Nelson Reservoir, Tiber Reservoir and Tongue River Reservoir. The bulk of the black crappie are located in the eastern half of the state. You may also find crappie in private ponds, rivers and some of the smaller lakes in the warmer sections of the state.

Click the images and links above for species details.

Top 5 Crappie Fishing Lures For Montana

Crappie jigs work well in water from 2' to 40' deep, and are the most popular artificial lure for crappie ever. When crappie are shallow, spinners, small crankbaits and underspins are the often very productive. As they move deeper, spoons are among the top producers if the crappie are active. Understanding the seasonal movements of crappie can enhance your chances of using these lures in the ideal locations.

Montana State Record Crappie

The state record black crappie was caught from Tongue River Reservoir.

The state record white crappie came out of the Tongue River.

Small jigs, live minnows, small spinners and other small lures will catch crappie. Use light line (six pound or less) and work the baits slowly - especially in cold water.

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in many Montana lakes. Crappie are known by many different local names. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch, slabs and speckled perch, are just a few.

Crappie Fishing Basics

Check out crappie information, by state.