Warm weather has me wantin to get on the water. Is the ice still on??

I'm from N. centeral IL so I've never fished crab yet. Went down to kincaid 2 yrs. ago. was the second week in feb. Had cabin fever. Caught a nice mess of crappy. Caught one of the biggest one I ever caught. 17 1/4 in. I had my uncle with me, he's 75 yrs old. When he seen it he said I'd mount that. I told him I was going to, with a fileting knifeand hot greese. We were the only ones on the lake that day. I plan on going back again this year.

Just called down to Top of the Hill Bait Shop outside of Murphysboro. The owner said that boats were out on kinkaid but that there was still ice in spots. She also said that you may have to break through thin ice at the ramps and as you move around the lake.

Crab warms up faster since it's shallower but both have quality crappie. We get a couple of 60 to 70 degree days and a south wind fishing the north side of Crab can fill your stringer.

Changed the oil in my boat motor yesterday, (4 stroke) and starting to look over my poles. Really getting the inch to go. Drove around Crab yesterday and all the ramps, still were iced up, but starting to melt fast..The rains that are coming should help to get rid of some of the ice, I hope.....

if it was me i would travel little farther south and hit lake of egypt (power plant lake) they have monster crappie in that lake and there is always open water there.

Forgot about Egypt. If this weather holds I'll be on one of these lakes. Hopefully. Dinner of fresh crappie sure sounds good!