News Take Mom Fishing Posted 10 May 2009 After taking mom to brunch and showering her with cards and gifts, there is one other treat to be had on Mother's Day. Take mom to a nearby lake for what is traditionally the peak of the crappie spawn and some of the best fishing all year. Iowa is fortunate to have as many quality crappie fishing lakes, all within about 30 miles from anywhere. Keep the bait simple - a 1/32 ounce or 1/16 ounce jig with a small colored body, and fish around rocky areas near shore. If the water is clear, go with a dark jig body. If the water is dark, go with a brighter color. Tip the hook with a small minnow if the action is slow. "We spend a lot of our time running from event to activity to work and we need to slow down and enjoy the moment. While we are honoring mom on Mother's Day, I would offer that there is no better gift to give mom than time and spending the day together at the lake," said Joe Larscheid, chief of the DNR's fisheries bureau. "Fishing makes memories that will last a lifetime," For information on fishing in Iowa, go to www.iowadnr.gov and click on fish and fishing. <