Crappie fishing on Rend Lake is showing a noticeable movement toward shallower water this week, with fish transitioning out of the creek channels and moving onto adjacent shallow flats.

On the north end of the lake, focus on isolated standing timber located in approximately 6 feet of water. Fish are positioning themselves on these individual pieces of structure as they move onto the flats. Targeting isolated timber just off the creek channels has been one of the most productive patterns.

The most effective presentation has been vertical jigging with a pink jig head paired with a bright-colored, shad-style soft plastic body. Keeping the bait vertical and working it around isolated timber has been a productive approach.

On the south end of Rend Lake, fish are relating more to brush piles in the 6–10-foot water-depth range. Focus on brush piles located along points near the mouths of pockets, where fish are holding around submerged structure.

The biggest takeaway this week is the movement toward shallow flats. Anglers should pay close attention to areas where creek channels meet shallower water, especially isolated timber on the north end. On the south end, targeting brush piles near pocket mouths and points remains a solid approach.

As conditions continue to change, following these transitions and focusing on key pieces of structure will be important for locating active crappie.