In perfectly calm weather, the areas that warm fastest in spring are shallow, south-facing enclosures or protected bays with dark bottoms. These areas are solar collectors, and the water that has the most sunlight striking it through the course of the day collects the most energy. Dark substrates like silt and muck absorb and radiate more heat than light-colored substrates like sand and gravel. Plankton and insect life are most active and prolific early on in these shallow, dark, south-facing areas, drawing lots of minnows. If a breeze or wind is blowing into such an area, all the better.

Shallow solar collectors are the areas we’ve always advised people to focus on for crappies in early spring. But just because these areas create warm water faster than other areas, it doesn’t mean the warm water stays there. Check these classic spots, note the water temperature, and if crappies seem inactive or not present, move around and look for warmer water that might have been redistributed by wind or convection currents over the past few days.

In reservoirs, at least some crappies roam shallow during late afternoon and evening. Prime brushpiles and deadfalls in the warmest water collect the most active fish. Some of these areas are quite large, and it takes some hunting to find the warmest spots.

Consider the wind history of the past few days and note the current wind direction before determining which shoreline to cover first. Again, finding an area that’s 2°F warmer than the rest of the creek arm tends to be more important than making the rounds of all the brushpiles that produced hot bites in the past, especially when the average water temperature is less than 60°F.

The wind pattern has predictable problems. The shoreline where the wind blows directly in to shore only warms on sunny days or under light cloud cover. During a cold rain or snow squall, areas taking a direct wind can actually cool down. In those situations, enclosed or completely protected areas become the odds-on call. If the water temperature is dropping, even by 1/10th of a degree an hour, the bite probably is about to fade away, if it hasn’t already. Look for warming water. And, in overall cooling situations, it might be a better idea to chase steelhead or trout and wait for the weather to turn.