Jigging along the sunken wood on the lake’s west side can prove effective for crappie anglers, and emergent vegetation on the north end should produce prime spawning and feeding grounds as the water warms.

Best-bet baits at Ingham in the springtime are small crappie minnows fished under a float or 1/32-ounce crappie jigs on light 4-pound-test line.

Ingham averages about 6 feet deep and drops to just 12 feet at its deepest points. Boat ramps are on the north side of the lake off Road B and on the southern side off 230th Road.

Its area 377 acres, Ingham Lake is six miles east of Wallingford in Emmet County. Call the Mt. Ayr Fisheries Unit for more information at (641) 464-3108.

IOWA GREAT LAKES
“There’s some great spring crappie fishing on Big Spirit Lake,” said longtime panfish guide Jim McDonnell. “They start biting just before the ice goes out and continue for several weeks after ice-out.”

Harvey recommended targeting Templars lagoon boat ramp and the area called “the Grade,” both of which are key spots on this good-sized body of water. The bulrushes in the Hales Slough area can also hold slabs, especially during the spawn.

West Okoboji is another lake in the chain that offers up some great spring fishing. “This is a good lake just before ice-out,” said McDonnell, “and then continues to produce nice crappies in the canal system between Emerson Bay and Miller’s Bay.”

Most of the lakes in the interconnected Iowa Great Lakes system have boat launches. Habitat is widely varied, so anglers can find cooler, deep water and warm shallows throughout the lakes; the smaller waters tend to be more fertile. The Iowa Great Lakes lie about 45 minutes from Emmetsburg in Dickinson County. For more information, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at (712) 336-1840.

STORM LAKE
“Storm Lake in Buena Vista County has a good crappie bite in most years,” said McDonnell. “The marina and boat ramp on the southwest corner of the lake is a top spot.”

Most of the prime crappie angling on Storm Lake can be had either by wading or by fishing from shore, McDonnell advised.

“Make sure you select the right rod, reel or cane pole for the job,” he suggested. “Longer rods and weighted bobbers will allow you to cast your lure farther out, while shorter rods should be reserved for tight quarters.”

Storm Lake, bordered by the town bearing its name, covers 3,097 acres in Buena Vista County and has a maximum depth of about 12 feet.

Conveniently spread out to accommodate arriving anglers, four ramps -- in Casino Bay, and off state Route 7, Sunrise Park Road and Mallard Road -- serve those fishing at Storm Lake. Contact the Black Hawk Fish Management Unit at (712) 657-2638 for more information.