movement question

[Walter Crapp]

I am newer to Stockton and am looking for advice!  In the fall when the water temp falls, where do the walleye and crappie typically go.  Do they move in more shallow when the temp falls, or out deeper?  Or, do they head different different directions?  At what temp do they start to get real active - if at all?  As a reference, I am used to fishing up north into Minnesota.  I'd appreciate any advice!  Thanks in advance.  PS - I mainly troll cranks and flickers!

[LoweSTX175]

Walt - I really hope someone could answer this for everyone.  I have fished Stockton my entire life.  Have really taken it serious over the last four years.  I can tell you all about the fishing in the Spring... but when it comes to the Fall I have always been puzzled for Crappie and Walleye.  The LM Bass in the Fall hit aggressively in my opinion.  Just really haven't had any major luck on the Crappie and Walleye either by trolling or simply jigging.  I will admit that in the Fall I do spend the majority of my time on the flats with no real "tear em up" day the last three falls (about 14 trips) coming from Kansas City area.

[waterpossum]

It's hard not to catch the irony here concerning the name of the topic and the poster.

[Jerry Rapp]

well Crapp, they are either deep, shallow, or in between.

[mjk86]

It's hard not to catch the irony here concerning the name of the topic and the poster.

hahaha I didn't notice that til I read this comment now I can't stop laughing.

[lundone]

My experience has been that in the fall there is usually a major hatch of shad and they grow quickly and spread through out the water system so most species follow them and consequently can be found at all depths up to 35' or so until the water temp gets down to below 40 deg.  At that point the shad begin to form large balls in order to stay warm and the predators follow the shad balls at which point jigs, spoons, and trolling very deep crank baits usually work best.  Tipping jigs with minnows helps also.

   

[Basschomper]

I have found a great fall crappie bite in the CC area for the last 6-7 years. I am not the only one by any means either. Because when the water gets to about 60 degrees and cooler, it reminds me of opening day at roaring river with all the boats and people on the bank. I counted 18 boats and 12 people on bank one Saturday morning  that was from the ramp to the first cove just east of the bridge. All types of presentations going on such as casting to bank and hoping a jig down the ledges, to drifting or trolling jigs and whatnot. My preference is vertical jigging the brush piles along channel ledge east of the bridge with 1/16oz jigs. Once the water drops to 40 degrees it seems to shut off. That's when I head north around Roark bluff area and fish steep points with brush.

 

 

[straw hat]

I tend to agree with the two previous posters. In the main lake as the water temperature drops below 65 F the crappie begin to move deeper and deeper along bluffs. Starting out around 25' and then slowly getting deeper as the water temp falls.

In the main creek areas, like CC, they will run 10 to 15 feet during those times moving in tight to the banks at night when it is colder. Finally settling in as deep as they can along the deeper steep bluffs by winter.

[Walter Crapp]

Thanks for the input.  I have mainly been trolling the flats and drop offs.  I had some success until August when the catfish moved in.  Since then it has been real slow.  I struggle with boat control trying to fish the brush piles and it becomes too much effort.  I mainly fish Sons Creek up to Chicken Rock and Mutton Creek.  Can you troll the rock ledges or is it best to use jigs?  Again, I appreciate the advice.  Thanks!

[Basschomper]

I don't troll much really. What I do know is most of the time this time of year most of my bites are about 6" off bottom. Pardon my grammar skills something doesn't look right about that sentence.