Black Crappie have been introduced into the Bellamy and thrive there along with other warm water species fish such as pickerel, largemouth bass, yellow perch and catfish. One of the most productive times to harvest crappie from this water is during winter while ice fishing. Crappie are active during winter and readily take small minnows or grubs placed on small hooks and jigs. The best section of water on the Bellamy to target for crappie fishing is between the Rt.9 bridge and the dam. A small access road on the west side of the reservoir leads down a sloping hill towards the frozen shore.
Parking is available along side the road and in several pulloffs.
Stop by Taylor's Bait and Tackle on Rt.9 for help with access directions. Finding the middle channel of deep water can be assisted by the use of a depth finder, or if you arrive after the first flurry of seasonal activity, simply searching for holes of past crappie fishermen in the ice will do. Finding the deeper water will more often than not help you locate a school of hungry crappie. Black Crappie are sensitive to light, which plays perfectly into to the hard water fisherman's hand, as long as there is snow cover. Glare ice and bright sun may delay an outing of a wise crappie fisherman by pushing it towards dusk and dark.