T.J. Stallings held the boat 40 feet from shore as I cast the grub-dressed Blakemore Road Runner up shallow, in about two feet of water, close to a shoreline-connected laydown.

After a moment to allow the light under-spin jighead to sink a foot or so, I started a steady retrieve. As had happened numerous times that morning, within a couple cranks of the reel handle a fat crappie intercepted the jig/soft bait combo.

Stallings is the kingpin of the TTI/Blakemore Fishing Group, an Alabama-based outfit that includes such time-honored names as Tru Turn and Daiichi hooks and Blakemore lures. And while it might have been fitting to have been on one of Alabama’s crappie-rich reservoirs, this outstanding crappie action took place a couple of weeks ago on Shenango River Lake.

Shenango River Lake is located in southwestern Mercer County, near Sharon and Hermitage. A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control lake, it covers a bit over 3,500 acres at normal summer pool. Like all reservoirs of such function, it is subject to fluctuating water levels, particularly during times of heavy rainfall and snow melt.

Though by no means a secret, crappie fishing-wise, Shenango might be slightly overshadowed of late, due to its proximity to Pymatuning Lake, which has been providing awesome sport for big crappies the past few years.

Add to this the recreational boating aspect of Shenango — there is no horsepower limitation with the exception of portions of the Pymatuning Creek arm (10 h.p. limit upstream of the railroad bridge) — chances are Shenango’s crappies see a little less angler attention than the sprawling reservoir to the north.

When the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission surveyed Shenango River Lake during the spring of 2010, fisheries personnel found an exceptional crappie population.

According to the PFBC report, “Shenango Lake has a well deserved reputation for good crappie fishing. Our trapnet catches for both black and white crappie were excellent. Black crappie are the predominant species and outnumbered white crappie by about 10 to one. Both species produced good numbers of quality size fish up to 15 inches. The crappie fishing should stay fairly consistent over the next few years because large numbers of young fish were captured as well.”

Physically, Shenango is relative shallow, with gradually dropping shorelines. The exception is the Mahaney Channel, where the lake narrows significantly — due to a much steeper valley, in the area upriver of the dam. The water is fertile and stained; gizzard shad are the primary baitfish species.

Several causeways and bridges span the main basins and creek arms. Weedgrowth is lacking due to winter drawdowns. Shoreline laydowns provide important crappie cover, especially during the springtime when the fish are shallow due to spawning activities.

Offshore wood cover is more significant during the summer. Shenango plays host to many submerged porcupine cribs in the eight to 20 foot zone, cover places intentionally to attract species such as crappies. A map showing the location of such submerged structures can be downloaded from the Fish and Boat Commission’s website (www.fishandboat.com); from the home page click on “fish,” then “habitat,” and then “fish habitat improvement maps.” Shenango Lake is under the Mercer County listings.

While crappies can be taken on a wide variety of bait and lure options, the combination of lightweight Road Runners dressed with soft plastic grubs (we used Charlie Brewer 1.5 inch Crappie Grubs) is ideal.

Horizontal presentations can be cast to shore and retrieved alongside cover. Use both a straight and stop-and-go retrieve to see what the fish respond to best. When over deeper cover, the jig-soft bait combo can be yo-yoed in a vertical manner.

Shenango River Lake features several excellent boat ramps, as well as a recreation area that includes a large campground. For more information visit the Corps of Engineers’ website at http://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/rec/lakes/shenango.htm.

For additional information on the outdoors opportunities of Mercer County log onto www.visitmercercountypa.com. Ask for the agency’s 2012-12 Outdoor Guide.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle