Brownlee Crappie and Catfish

[dowhatwecan]

I have been going to Brownlee for 30 years or so and I believe that you can approach Brownlee one of two ways. You can plan on fishing the new moon in June which is the time when crappie start staging for spawning. The water temperatures are in the low to mid 60s and the moon is their cue to come into the shallows in large schools. The other approach is to look for a high pressure system to set up in the area with warmer than usual weather in April and May. The problem with going sooner are the water levels. They really draw it down in the spring and launching is an issue. We normally launch at a primitive launch about 8 miles down lake from Spring Rec. Site. If the water is rising the launch is pretty easy but when the water is dropping the launch can be pretty rough. Make sure you have 4 wheel drive if the water is dropping. I personally go every year New Moon in June. I is always a great trip as far as fishing. You could go later and do better on catfish and bass but the crappie fishing is spotty at times. I have been down there in July though and really had a great time but damn it was hot.

Drew
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