Winter Crappie Question

[Blazerman]

4 hours ago, shrapnel said:

They're crappie.  One of the dumbest, most prolific feeders in freshwater.  When I get schooled by another target species I use crappie to make me feel better about myself...lol.   Don't wet a line until you see a group of fish on sonar, and don't fret color too much if using jigs, if you put something, anything in front of a crappie it usually eats it.  On LOZ right now the bigger fish are shallow in 48* water, like 3'-6' but fish can be caught down to 20'.  I am in the camp that fish can see and line matters,  even crappie so go small.  4-6lb mono is perfect or if using braid make sure to use a nice long leader.

This guy knows what he is talking about. He has crappie catching dialed in and consistently catches them most every time out. These were from yesterday morning. (Thanks for taking me Ed). We fished with jigs and did not use any crappie nibbles. Some were under docks and some were near trees and brush near the bank.

[Johnsfolly]

Looks like a great fish fry @Blazerman!

[dan hufferd]

7 hours ago, shrapnel said:

They're crappie.  One of the dumbest, most prolific feeders in freshwater.  When I get schooled by another target species I use crappie to make me feel better about myself...lol.   Don't wet a line until you see a group of fish on sonar, and don't fret color too much if using jigs, if you put something, anything in front of a crappie it usually eats it.  On LOZ right now the bigger fish are shallow in 48* water, like 3'-6' but fish can be caught down to 20'.  I am in the camp that fish can see and line matters,  even crappie so go small.  4-6lb mono is perfect or if using braid make sure to use a nice long leader.

Interesting ! I will try it for sure.

Question: why are they shallow? Is it a little warmer some days, maybe on over cast days? A couple weeks ago I never caught a fish until I found a brush pile at 36', I pecked around on a few that were in the 20's then I thought, what heck I will move deeper, and there they were. It was a bright day, no wind water temp 49.

Thanks.

This is going to be an interesting thread.

[Greg B.]

Thanks again to all that have replied.  That's what I'm getting at I guess.  Shrapnel catching a bunch of fish in 3-6' of water, others catching fish deep on brush.  I figure this stuff is all very lake, temperature, weather specific and it takes a really long time and lots of experience to have much idea where to start on any given day, at least in the winter time.  My gut seems to say that fish should be deep when the water temp is in the 40s, but I still keep seeing folks catching fish shallow.  

The temps here are miserably cold and the wind hasn't given it a break in several days.  I guess when i get a decent day, I'll put the boat in and give it a try somewhere, most likely deep to start.  

[Lance34]

Man you just missed the insane post spawn river bite in July.  By then it dies down.  You’ll still catch them just not many.  Since your setup to rig.  Give power trolling a try in that post spawn time of year.  You can control your baits much better.  Spend more time catching fish then fighting them lines 50-75 feet behind you.

I haven’t been on Beaver much since July.  I just trailer my boat elsewhere.   Rather catch them in 10 foot or less of water than 25-30 foot in July and through the fall.

Learned the better quality of fish live shallow most year around but you have to be on a lake with the right water conditions to do that.  Beaver ain’t it.  Go north if you got to stay on Beaver by then.

Back to winter time rigging.  Winter to me on Beaver is when crappie fishing is at it’s best.  Enjoy them days when that water temperature is down in the high 30’s and catching them laying in the mud on their bellies rigging 

Just so much fun rigging shallow. 

Meaning 10 fow or less....  It’s that stalking and stealthy fishing technique.  Like a tiger hunting his prey 🤣🤣

Guys got all their flavor.  Jigging their deep planted forest, shooting docks and praying the thing flys the right direction and maybe hook something 🤣. They all good techniques.  Choose what you like and what works for you.

You’ve made a big investment in a rigging setup.  Stretch those rods out the the front and go to work.  It takes time to learn it.  Don’t give up.

Channel edges and ledges yes.  If it’s creeks or main depends on that wind.  They at both.  Over main shallow flats too , still depends on that wind if in a creek or main flats.  That’s where I’ld start.  

Good fishing Lance 

 

 

 

[Greg B.]

Lance, thanks for chiming in.  I’ve read most of your posts about crappie in the area and was hoping you would jump in.  Rigging deep deep is not going to be any fun, I can already tell.  I did some at 18 feet a few weeks ago and didn’t care for it.  If I can find some fish a little shallower I’ll be happy.  It sounds like fish can be caught about anywhere, I just have to find em and start learning.  

[shrapnel]

2 hours ago, dan hufferd said:

Interesting ! I will try it for sure.

Question: why are they shallow? Is it a little warmer some days, maybe on over cast days? A couple weeks ago I never caught a fish until I found a brush pile at 36', I pecked around on a few that were in the 20's then I thought, what heck I will move deeper, and there they were. It was a bright day, no wind water temp 49.

Thanks.

This is going to be an interesting thread.

A lot of fish are surprisingly shallow when water temps are in the mid to upper 40's.  Drop below 45* and I think that's when winter patterns really lock in on LOZ (Each lake varies) and fish head deeper.  Were still casting for them, and just a slow reel back to the boat letting the jig get down to maybe 10' at the most then burnin it back in for the next cast.  Most bites were in that 3-6' range.  Same if shooting docks, no need to let that jig fall more than 10' right now.  Cloudy days they venture out and can be caught on the corners and middle of stalls, sunny days I prefer to shoot pretty far under something.  Best spots for me lately have been close to deep water,  but not over it.  Our best dock yesterday was 12-15' off the deep end and our best tree was about the same, the channel was not far though.

[shrapnel]

5 hours ago, Blazerman said:

This guy knows what he is talking about. He has crappie catching dialed in and consistently catches them most every time out. These were from yesterday morning. (Thanks for taking me Ed). We fished with jigs and did not use any crappie nibbles. Some were under docks and some were near trees and brush near the bank.

 

Anytime!  I'm also starting to think the bright colored heads, pink, orange, chartreuse are producing better than black, white silver.   Get ya some paint!

[Lance34]

25 minutes ago, Greg B. said:

Lance, thanks for chiming in.  I’ve read most of your posts about crappie in the area and was hoping you would jump in.  Rigging deep deep is not going to be any fun, I can already tell.  I did some at 18 feet a few weeks ago and didn’t care for it.  If I can find some fish a little shallower I’ll be happy.  It sounds like fish can be caught about anywhere, I just have to find em and start learning.  

Sure thing...  Yeah rigging deep is not my favorite.  If that’s only place I find then so be it.  Don’t know what poles you use.  But going that deep 18 plus feet.  Go to a 1oz rig to avoid a bow in the line.  Keep it vertical at best.  Also if your poles can handle that wt.

Summer time  power trolling you’ll be over deep water but only 11-15 feet down.  Thermocline plays a part then.

Deepest I’ve ever rigged for them was on Dardanelle in the winter 25-30 feet down.  Just awkward reeling a 16 foot pole.  🤣

If this lake behaves and it’s like the past few years you’ll find them shallow consistently from mid December to the end of the spawn😉

Good fishing Lance

[Greg B.]

I’ve got 4- 14 foot bnm pro trollers right now and 2 12 footers.  I know they’re somewhat short for rigging but I wanted to start on the short side.  I’ve been using 1/2 ounce weights but will try heavier if I go deep again.