Bill May

I was standing in the fly fishing section of the venerable L.L. Bean store in Freeport, Maine, trying to gauge the action of an 8-weight fly rod when a man sidled up to me and whispered in a conspiratorial voice, "I've convinced my wife I need a rod in every weight made."

Crappies are arguably America¿s favorite ¿eatin¿¿ panfish, at least in fresh water fishing. (White perch would probably take the honors in Chesapeake country.) They are usually easy to catch, can be taken in large numbers, are easily cleaned and are delicious.