The grass is not always greener on the other side, and the best fishing is not always found somewhere else. In fact, the finest opportunities often are close to home. With that thought in mind, we began by looking at the most populous Virginia cities and then we handpicked a close-to-home crappie fishing hotspot for each. So, unless you just like spending more time driving and less time fishing or spending extra money on gas, these are the waters you'll want to consider this month.

VIRGINIA BEACH -- LAKE WHITEHURST
Lake Whitehurst is sort of like two lakes in one because it has two distinct bodies, which are connected by a shallow canal that is impassible by boat. One section, which is located within Virginia Beach, is also commonly called Little Creek Reservoir (not to be confused with the Little Creek Reservoir in James City County) and is very shallow. The main section includes several deep holes. Combined, Lake Whitehurst covers 673 acres, all convenient to Virginia Beach residents and serving up fine crappie fishing, especially during the spring.

Black crappie are popular sport fish on Lake Whitehurst, and recent biologists' surveys suggest that the crappie populations are improving, with good numbers of 1-pound fish available. The Whitehurst side is generally thought to offer the best overall fishing; however, it also gets more fishing pressure, due both to a better reputation and to better boating access. On either side, trolling is a good way to locate crappie.

Gas motors up to 9.9 horsepower are permitted on Lake Whitehurst. A daily fishing permit is required. A dirt ramp provides access to the Little Creek Reservoir side of the lake. Two paved ramps provide access to the rest of the lake. Bank-fishing is limited to fishing piers at the access areas.

NORFOLK -- DIASCUND RESERVOIR
For close-to-home crappie, it would be hard to top 1,110-acre Diascund Reservoir, which straddles the New Kent/James City county line and serves as water source for the city of Newport News. The lake's population of black crappie appears to be in good condition, based on the most recent trap netting surveys conducted by the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, with most fish captured in the nets falling in the 8- to 12-inch range.

Beyond yielding good numbers and a nice average size, though, Diascund produces some genuine slabs, which is evidenced by the fact that this lake annually yields several citation-earning black crappie. In 2007, the most recent year for which results are available, Diascund's yield of nine citation crappie put it seventh in Virginia.

Diascund has several significant creek arms, and during April, many of the crappie will be up the creeks. Trolling or drifting is a good way to locate fish, and anglers should be ready to toss out a marker buoy any time a couple rods go down at once. Crappie are schooling fish, and where there is one, there often are many.

Diascund does not offer much to the shoreline angler. The only public bank access to the lake is in the immediate vicinity of the boat ramp. Boating anglers should check the water level before planning a trip as low water levels can cause temporary boat ramp closures.

CHESAPEAKE -- LAKE COHOON
A 510-acre water-supply reservoir for the city of Portsmouth, Lake Cohoon is located within the city of Suffolk. Year after year, Cohoon stands out as one of the best crappie lakes in the Tidewater Region, with good numbers of quality fish consistently available. Lake Cohoon is a narrow impoundment of Cohoon Creek and part of the Suffolk Lakes chain.