It may seem improbable now, but we Floridians soon will be feeling the chills of winter.

With these temperature dips will come an increase in black crappie (speckled perch) activity in our lakes and, to a lesser extent, in the slower stretches of our river and stream systems.

For a vast "army" of speck enthusiasts throughout the Sunshine State and southeastern United States, the time can't come soon enough. "Bring 'em on!" they say in unison.

Late winter and early spring is prime time for Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) when they abandon deeper water habitat and migrate nearer to shore to bed and spawn.

Given their 'druthers, specks prefer calm, clear waters. When the weather is hot, they'll generally stay deep and hang out around submerged brush piles or other bottom structure. At spawning time, they move near shore, usually around grasses in waters as shallow as 3-4 feet, and fan out a bed. There are a few enthusiasts that fish for crappie during the summer months by slow trolling or drifting. Usually, when connecting with a fish or two, they will drop anchor and concentrate on a small area. During the spawn, speck buffs will drop anchor near the beds, many of which are visible, especially for those wearing polarized sunglasses.

Small, live baitfish, sold at bait shops as "Missouri Minnows," are easily the favorite offering. Grass shrimp, crickets and, sometimes, earthworms are on a speck's menu too. Tiny, leadhead jigs, small spinnerbaits and midget crankbait models of larger bass plugs will produce for those who prefer artificials, while fly rodders who specifically target this specie often employ sinking flies or little streamers.

A majority of those we see fishing for specks will be using cane poles. A few will toss light or ultra-light spinning outfits, while a mere handful will be "wand wavers."

It's important to note that crappie have tender mouths, which calls for a light set with a wire hook when a cork or bobber goes under.

Although the world record for speckled perch stands at 4 pounds, 8 ounces (Florida record: 3.83 pounds), most we catch will weigh in the neighborhood of 8 to 12 ounces. Any crappie measuring 14 inches or longer or scaling at least two pounds will qualify a successful angler for a handsome, ready-to-frame Big Catch Certificate issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

What the black crappie lacks in spunk and endurance, it more than makes up for in taste. Many throughout the south insist that, as table fare, there's simply nothing finer.

Dark gray or greenish on its back, shading to silvery or white on its sides, the speck - as its name implies - has many spots covering its body. Another feature of the specie is its large, fanlike posterior and anal fins, which are nearly mirror images of each other.

A few years ago, FWC, in a largely successful effort to increase the average size of Florida's speck populations, halved the daily per person 50 fish bag limit to 25. In some Fish Management Areas, that number may even be lower. Recently, a survey among FWC biologists came up with "A Top-10" listing of the state's best crappie lakes. They include (in no particular order): Lake Istokpoga, Lake Walk-In-Water, Lake Wier, Lake Talquin, Lake Harris, Turkey Lake (in Orlando), Lake Monroe, the north end of Lake Okeechobee, Lakeland's Tenoroc Fish Management Area, and Lake Marian.

Anglers shouldn't limit themselves to these Top-10 selections, however, since most of Florida's lakes and many of its river systems contain good to excellent populations of speckled perch, which are just waiting to be caught.

Information on specks and other Florida fishes can be found in FWC's Sportfish Regulations booklet available at most tackle stores or by writing: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 (Phone: 850-488-1401). Regulations and information about the Big Catch Program, crappie and other fishes can all be found on the FWC Fisheries Web site: http://FloridaFisheries.com.