Orange Lake (between Gainesville and Ocala) – The water level on this lake is back up after being down for years. As a result, crappie fishing is back up. Crappie were biting in open water through October and November, and they’ll start again when the weather warms up this spring. Crappie in this lake like to hit jigs and minnows.
 

Lochloosa Lake (northeast of, and connected to, Orange Lake) – FWC biologists poured some intensive lake management talent into this 5,500-acre body as Mother Nature raised the water level back to what it needs to be, and crappie have responded. Fish around the lily pads in the southeast and northwest parts of the lake and in the narrow connection to Little Lake Lochloosa when you’re after crappie. Also, the maiden cane patches are good spots when crappie get ready to spawn.
 

Lake Monroe (near Sanford) – The FWC’s habitat-restoration wizards have been tuning up this 9,400-acre sweetie-pie since the late 1980s, and they’ve got her really purring. Until July 1, this lake’s black crappie have to be at least 12 inches long before anglers can keep them, but there’s plenty of the qualifiers to go around. The minimum size limit will go away July 1.

Big crappie go for small jigs, Bream Killers, Hal-Flies or Beetlespins. Missouri minnows and grass shrimp also work.
 

Lake Jessup (south of Sanford) – You can wear yourself out, catching crappie on this 10,000-acre honeyhole. They run a little smaller than the crappie you find in other lakes in this part of central Florida, but there are zillions of them looking to get caught on minnows by anglers who drift-fish in the middle of the lake and near Bird Island. Lots of crappie also hang out in the Soldier Creek area and the north end of the lake, where it connects to the St. Johns River.
 

Lake Talquin (west of Tallahassee) – Think about it. This 8,800-acre reservoir is just outside Tallahassee. It’s where the FWC’s top brass goes fishing, so you know they’re going to make sure this baby doll gets all the attention it can use. Is it any surprise the state record 3-pound, 13 ¼-ounce black crappie came out of Lake Talquin? This lake has lots of submerged stumps and whatnot, so you don’t want to go hot-rodding around it in a boat, but if you want to catch some nice crappie, and you’re willing to abide by the 10-inch minimum size limit, you’ll love it here.
 

Lake Okeechobee (If you don’t already know where Lake Okeechobee is, you’re no fisherman! South Florida. You can’t miss it.) – A lake this big can’t help but produce slab-sized crappie and plenty of them. People who know this lake suggest crappie anglers fish in the Kissimmee River/Fisheating Bay/Taylor Creek areas on the north end of the lake. Also, jigging along the grass lines and dropping minnows into holes in the vegetation work well. If you’re more in the mood for a laid-back-style of fishing, try drift-fishing around Little Grassy, Eagle Bay Island and Kings Bar.
 

Tenoroc Fish Management Area (near Lakeland) – This 14-lake complex is one of the best crappie fishing holes in the country, and that’s a fact. It’s open to the public four days a week. If you want to fish in this angler paradise, it’s best to call ahead and make a reservation. The number is (941) 499-2421. There is a 10-inch minimum size limit and a 10-fish bag limit in this fish management area. Fish with Missouri minnows, Beetlespins, tiny curly-tail and tube jigs or Hal-Flies when you want to have the fishing experience of a lifetime at Tenoroc.
 

Lake Istokpoga (near Sebring) – Winter is the best time to catch crappie in this 28,000-acre wonder. From November through April, anglers troll open water with Hal-Flies, doll flies, spinner jigs and Napier jigs to locate schools of crappie and then pounce on them like ugly on a baby ‘possum. When the water temperature stabilizes around 65 degrees, crappie move into bulrush and spatterdock along the shoreline to spawn. There’s a trick to catching them when that happens. Move slowly through the vegetation in three to six feet of water and fish with a crappie jig around the vegetation.
 

Lake Kissimmee (south of the city of the same name) – A few years ago, you wouldn’t have seen 35,000-acre Lake Kissimmee on this list, but …boom…things changed about three years ago, and crappie fishing here has been excellent ever since. Anglers are catching big ones too. Some of them throw the 10-inchers back, and say things like “That one was tiny.” To catch your share of crappie in this lake, fish with minnows and jigs along the grass line and offshore. The deeper holes off the grass lines are good spots too.
 

Lake Marian (east of Lake Kissimmee) – This is the lake to fish when you want to catch lots of crappie, and you don’t care if they’re not the biggest fish you’ve ever seen. They’re big enough at 9 inches or more, and they’re packed into this 5,739-acre lake, so it’s not hard to find them with minnows, small jigs and such. Troll, drift fish…whatever works for you, and go home and have fresh fish for dinner. Then, just for fun, call somebody up north, who is in the middle of a blizzard, and tell him about your fishing trip.