The Merle Collins Reservoir is a great spot for fishing enthusiasts in California, USA. The reservoir is known for its wide variety of fish species including largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and crappie. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, camping, and birdwatching in the nearby areas. Fishing tips include using plastic worms and spinnerbaits for bass and live bait for catfish. The best time to visit is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the fish are most active. Average temperatures during this time range from 60-80°F.

Featured Fish - Black Crappie

It is an abundant species and is important both commercially and as a sport fish. Black crappies are easily caught, often as fast as the hook can be rebaited. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: Though they show a definite family resemblance, they are distinctive enough that they shouldn’t be confused with any other species. The black crappie and the white crappie are most often confused with each other. Despite their common names, both species are the same color (dark olive or black dorsally with silvery sides) and both have spots on the sides. However, the pattern of the spotting is distinctly different. In the black crappie the spots are more or less irregular and scattered while in the white crappie the spots may be more vague and are clearly arranged into 7-9 vertical bars on the sides. Another distinction; the black crappie has 7-8 dorsal spines while the white crappie has only 6, the same number as in its anal fin. In body shape the black crappie’s is somewhat deeper than the white crappie.