April is prime shallow-water crappie fishing time in South Carolina and an abundance of lakes in the state produce plenty of big crappie. There is outstanding fishing close to nearly every population center in the state.

According to Ross Self, Chief of Fisheries for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), there are a couple of important points about the crappie fishing in the state.

"Crappie are a cyclic species in terms of numbers of fish, but overall, the crappie fishing in the state is very good," Self said. "There are no major problems that we are dealing with. Normal fluctuations in populations are occurring at some lakes, both up and down, but that is expected.

"Another interesting bit of information we are closely following is the resurgence of crappie fishing popularity," Self said. "Every five years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes a National Survey on a variety of topics, including fishing effort. Crappie fishing increased 30 percent in South Carolina from 2001 to 2006, according to this study."

For this focus on good crappie fishing, we'll center the look at lakes near major population areas. Many of the areas will have more than one good crappie fishing lake in the vicinity.

When going by human population, the largest metropolitan area in the state is the state capital of Columbia. Columbia has the obvious excellent fishery of Lake Murray, which is very close. However, within very easy driving distance, depending on which side of this big city you live on, you also have Lake Marion as well as Lake Wateree.

Lake Murray provides a double opportunity: It's a relatively deep, clearwater lake on the lower end and a more river-like setting in the upper part of the lake. The lake has had good spawns of panfish species, including crappie, since the drawdown ended and the lake level rose over all the new growth. Self said the crappie and panfish have flourished in recent years. Many of the post-drawdown crappie are now at the age where they are providing very good fishing opportunities for fishermen.

Look for the fish in shallow water around brush, downed trees and around docks. Many docks will have brushpiles placed in front of them, which will provide excellent fishing during April. In the upper end of the lake, the water depths are such that anglers can work along the creek ledges drifting or slow-trolling tightline minnow rigs or slow-trolling small jigs to make excellent catches as well.

On the lower end of the lake, there are several big creeks that will produce, including Twenty-Mile Creek, Beaverdam Creek and Bear Creek. Good access is located at the public ramp on Highway 6 at the dam. In the upper end of the lake, Rocky Creek and the Little Saluda River are prime areas to target. Little River Marina is good for a launch to begin your search in the upper end of Lake Murray.

Charleston, North Charleston, Mt. Pleasant and Summerville are also big population centers and they have a crappie bonanza right at their doorstep: Lake Moultrie. Not much farther away is Lake Marion.