Black crappie

Solid Hoover panfish: spring banks and brush, then deeper wood and channel edges.

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, so 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 has its own crappie rule in the 2026–27 booklet: 30 a day, 9″ minimum. ODNR has proposed dropping the 9″ minimum from March 1, 2027, so check the current rules before you keep fish.

Rule	Reminder (verify 2026–27)
Minimum length at Hoover	9″ (Hoover site-specific rule)
Daily bag	30, black and white crappie combined (Hoover site-specific rule)

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.
Small net; ruler for the 9″ line.
Bank: long rod helps; boat: spider-rig or simple jigging under 10 hp.

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 has its own 9″ minimum and 30 a day, so don’t assume statewide panfish defaults.

Water & maps

Contours, pool correction, public ramps.

Log a trip

Targeting Black crappie : private browser log or community submit.

Unofficial notebook only, not ODNR, the City of Columbus or USGS. License required ages 16+. Confirm regs before you keep fish.