Generations of fishermen have used Reelfoot Lake for a playground. It has some deep water, but most of the lake is shallow water filled with cypress trees, stumps and lily pads. That’s where you’ll find most of the fishing action in May.

Focus on the pads

Crappies like to go to the lily pads in spring. Cypress trees and stumps associated with the pads are key features to fish. Crappies and other species migrate there as soon as the water starts to warm.

There are a lot of pads in the lake, but not all pads hold fish. Fish start in the pads close to the bank in 1 or 2 feet of water to spawn. However, it doesn’t take long for the crappies to start moving to 3 to 5 feet deep water. Pads in these depths should be good through mid-July.

Reelfoot fisherman Jim Dant says, “Systematically fishing the pads is important. Start with the outside edges and lone pads close to a group of pads. From there, dip in the holes you can reach without getting too far into the pads. The last choice is to get deep into the pads. You will learn a pattern that you can use to catch crappies. If fish are on the edges, it’s a good bet other edges will hold fish, too.

“I’m jigging in May. I use 10- and 11-foot Grizzly jig poles. I try to hit the outside edges and all the holes in the pads. I’ll also fish cypress trees as I go by them. I use a good 6-pound-test line that doesn’t create memory on the reel. Line memory will mess up presentations. My bait is a 1/24-ounce Slab Slay’R or Baby Shad jig in most situations. The weight gives a slow, natural fall that creates more bites. I use forward-facing sonar about 75 percent of the time. I can see the fish in the pads if I take my time. However, in the pads, a fisherman can do just fine without the fancy electronics.

“If you’re not catching fish in 3 to 5 feet of water, try in 6 to 8 feet. In late May and June, I’m looking for laydown trees and stumps. The big water can be good too, with 13- to 16-foot depths common with a mass of stumps and trees submerged.”

Wind can be a problem on Reelfoot. Dant says to check the weather the night before and go to places that have a windbreak. For example, Green Island Point is good in a north wind, and Kirby’s Pocket with a south wind.

Dant recommends a fisherman visiting the lake start at Kirby’s Pocket. Be sure to idle because there are thousands of stumps just under the surface. Navigation can be difficult. However, on a good day of fishing, you will likely catch 15 fish or more from the pads. Most crappies are 10 to 11 inches with an occasional 13- to 15-inch fish.

Look for the boats

Eight-time national champ and Reelfoot guide Steve Coleman (731-442-9152) says May is a great time to fish. “It’s primarily the end of spawn but the fish are still in transition. Spawned fish are tired and most of the time they are hungry. A visitor to the lake can just look for all the boats. Where you see boats is where the fish have been biting.

“The spawn continues to happen so you’ll catch both post-spawn and spawning crappies. My favorite spot is a log on bottom. You can catch eight or 10 good male crappies from one log. I use electronics to find the logs and stumps. If you have forward-facing sonar, you can pull up and pick the fish out. Those fish will bite every time.”

Coleman says an important part of his success is his B‘n’M Ambush 24-foot retractable pole. Its reach is about 20 feet from the front edge of the boat so he can catch crappie before they know he’s there. He keeps the Ambush at 11 or 12 feet, resting in his lap. If a fish is further out, he quickly slides out sections to make the pole longer. If a fish gets closer, sections can be slid in.

Bonus fish

I’ve had many opportunities to fish Reelfoot with Grizzly Jig Company owner Louie Mansfield. He calls his technique “Grizzly fishing” because we use small, 1/32-ounce Grizzly Jigs to slowly jig in the pads, cypress trees and stumps. The technique is old-school jigging with a long pole, paying more attention to where we placed a bait rather than staring at a screen. Quality poles, line and jigs take jigging to a new level. The technique fun because you get the surprise of a bite instead of watching it happen on a screen.

Another surprise is the bonus fish caught. A tiny jig tipped with a waxworm, Crappie Nibble or similar attractant will potentially catch every species that swims in the lake, including bass, catfish and bluegills. A livewell usually has a mixed bag of fish. Grizzly fishing is the most economical and potentially most fun way to catch fish, especially for crappies and bluegills.

Other fun stuff in the region

Don’t miss the Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. They have information for regional events and offer exhibits that are fun for the family.

Located in Tiptonville is another item of interest. It’s an awesome, very tall grain bin with a huge bald eagle.

The Discovery Park of America is a 45-minute drive from the lake and is a family must-see-must-do. It includes a dinosaur hall, science and space halls, a large military gallery, train display, native American gallery, Stem landing, grounds and gardens with log buildings and demonstrations of old crafts, and other displays (www.discoveryparkofamerica.com). 

An internet search can help you find campgrounds, cabins, lodges and nearby hotels. A few of the most popular places to stay are Sportsman’s Resort (www.reelfootlake.com) and Blue Bank Resort (www.bluebankresort.com).

The Grizzly Jig Company is the largest crappie store in the country and only a 40-minute drive from the lake (www.grizzlyjig.com).