If you can't go fishing because it's too cold and windy, take advantage of the downtime with some rod-and-reel maintenance.

The author rallies a group of Michigan buddies for a sunny day of lake trout fishing on Michigan's Crystal Lake.

Slab crappies are meat eaters—sure enough minnow munchers. They take artificials well at times, especially jigs—but big crappie will turn their noses at even the best of the best crappie lures.