There is good fishing in the lower end of the lake during April; however, the shallower water depth and incredible diversity of woody cover in the upper end is a fisherman attractor as much as a fish attractor.

Access is easy at Greenwood State Park and there is a fee ramp on the north side of the lake at the U.S. Highway 72 bridge.

Lake Richard B. Russell on the Savannah River is another excellent crappie-fishing hotspot, especially during April. The proximity of this lake to Greenville makes for very easy access and it's also close to Spartanburg.

The lake has a lot of woody cover, ideal for spawning crappie in April. The key to this is timing in terms of when they move to the shallows and stay there, and when they are staging in the mid-depths.

Typically, the early part of the month, there will be some good fishing in the shallow water, usually less than 6 feet deep. This will occur in the creeks and large coves, as well as in the tributary creeks that flow into the large creeks. Rocky creek is an excellent example of this.

Once the fish move to the shallows, working shoreline cover with a long pole and minnows in the backs of the creeks and coves will produce excellent catches of fish. However, except for the week to 10-day period when the spawn is at its peak, working the staging areas, such as points and mouths of pockets, by drifting live minnows or trolling small jigs will produce the most consistent results.

Access to the lake is easy with public ramps located at Calhoun Falls State Recreation area.

The lower portion of the state -- around Hilton Head -- is likely the most problematic in terms of having an excellent crappie fishery in very close proximity. However, there are two excellent fisheries not too far away: lakes Marion and Moultrie. Within a respectable drive, anglers can reach either of these lakes and enjoy excellent crappie fishing during April.

According to SCDNR fisheries biologist Chris Thomason, those are likely the best choices for consistent action in that part of the state. Thomason works out of the Barnwell SCDNR office and is quite familiar with the area.

"There's really not a destination crappie fishery in the area other than lakes Marion and Moultrie," Thomason said. "There are crappies in the Edisto River and they are certainly caught by fishermen. However, the fish are not there in high numbers where they can be considered a productive crappie fishery. Another possibility is Lake Warren, a DNR-managed lake in Hampton County. This lake is about 300 acres in size and it does produce some good crappie fishing. However, the size of the lake is such that it doesn't afford tremendous opportunity."

Lake Warren does have a boat ramp, fishing pier and is handicap accessible. Outboard motors up to 10 horsepower are allowed. The lake is located on County Road 41, between S.C. Highway 363 and U.S. Highway 601, southeast of Hampton.

"Finally, Lake Edgar Brown in Barnwell has had good crappie fishing in the past," Thomason said. "However, this 100-acre lake currently does not have good crappie fishing. I would not recommend the lake for crappie fishing at this time."

For the vast majority of South Carolina crappie fishermen, good crappie fishing is close by. The best shallow-water fishing of the year is upon us, so pick a hotpot near you and go crappie fishing.