Black crappie

Season

• Spring: shallow banks and cover — peak bank fishing.
• Summer: deeper brush, docks (public), channel swings.
• Fall: follow bait into creeks and arms.
• Winter: deeper schools — vertical presentations from a boat.

Time of day

Dawn/dusk excellent. Night under lights (public) can be fun in summer. Midday summer often deeper.

Where on Hoover

• Upper arms / Oxbow for spring bank.
• Brush and timber marked on ODNR contours (reference).
• Public docks/ramps only.

Water maps · ODNR depth PDF (2001 @ 894 ft)

Limits reminder — verify

Hoover 9″ minimum noted on ODNR Hoover Fishing Area page; bag rules change — always verify HuntFish OH 2026 before keeping.

Reminder only — confirm on HuntFish OH / ODNR licenses and the current ODNR regs before you keep fish. Cite: ODNR Fishing Regulations 2026–27 (verify current).

Gear

Sized for bank reality and ≤10 hp boats — Hoover is a drinking-water reservoir.

• Light spinning, 4–6 lb line, bobbers or light jigs.
• Bank: long rod helps; boat: spider-rig or simple jigging under 10 hp.
• Small net; ruler for the 9″ line.

Bait & presentation

• Minnows (where legal), tube jigs, marabou, small plastics under a bobber.
• Spring: slow along banks. Summer: vertical on brush.

Notes

Black & white crappie both present. Hoover-specific 9″ min — don’t assume statewide panfish defaults.