If you haven't tried Winter Crappie fishing, you're missing out on one of the most productive and reliable times to catch this tasty panfish. Finding Crappie during the Winter months is the hard part. But with a fish finder, a little knowledge and some time on your favorite body of water, you can be catching Crappie when other anglers are at home in front of the fireplace.
Once you have discovered the Crappie pattern for your local body of water, you can pretty much count on finding Crappie in the same areas regardless of where you are on the water. For example, if you find them suspended at 15 feet over 50 feet of water on a submerged river channel with brush, you'll likely find then at other areas of the lake suspended at 15 feet of water over deep brush.
In most lakes at this time of year, Crappie can almost always be found hanging around deep brush on submerged river or creek channels. Vertical bluff-type structure, and manmade brushpiles in deep water are also excellent areas to find Winter Crappie.
A good lake or river map showing the bottom details is a must for Winter Crappie fishing. Search for those brushy areas along submerged breaks. Although Crappie normally hold in deep water during the Winter, there are times you can find them shallow. This will usually occur after a few days of warm weather. Crappie are likely to be only a few feet deep over brush or you may find them on the flats relating to structure.
The right tackle will make you or break you for Crappie fishing in the Winter.
Winter Crappie fishing requires you to downsize your tackle. The same tackle you used back in the Summer and Spring will not be as effective in Winter. Light and Ultralight rods in the 6 to 7 foot range, small minnows or 1/32 ounce jigs and four pound test line are the norm. Crappie become sluggish and finicky in the Winter, and they won't chase bait. In fact, they want the bait right in front of their mouth during most of the Winter.
I like using 6 to 7 foot Light to Ultra Light spinning rods with a stiff back. I prefer graphite over fiberglass rods because Crappie bite softly in the Winter. Graphite rods help you feel these soft bites.
When looking for Winter Crappie, my other terminal tackle includes small jigs, spinners and minnows. I use 2 to 4 pound test line. If using minnows, I'll use a #6 Tru Turn gold aberdeen hooks. Jigs or ice fishing spoons should be in the 1/32 and 1/64 ounce area. Crappie don't like large baits during the Winter, I'm not sure why but I've always caught more with small baits than with big baits and heavy line.
Cold Crappie won't chase down bait during the Winter. This means you must put your offering in front of their nose and leave it there. In fact, many times I've had more success by not imparting any motion with my jig. Make it easy for the Crappie to eat your bait. This isn't rocket science, so don't get all technical with your presentation. Just hold it in front of them, they'll bite it!
Visiting the links below will take you to resources about catching Crappie anytime of the year.
Once you have discovered the Crappie pattern for your local body of water, you can pretty much count on finding Crappie in the same areas regardless of where you are on the water. For example, if you find them suspended at 15 feet over 50 feet of water on a submerged river channel with brush, you'll likely find then at other areas of the lake suspended at 15 feet of water over deep brush.
In most lakes at this time of year, Crappie can almost always be found hanging around deep brush on submerged river or creek channels. Vertical bluff-type structure, and manmade brushpiles in deep water are also excellent areas to find Winter Crappie.
A good lake or river map showing the bottom details is a must for Winter Crappie fishing. Search for those brushy areas along submerged breaks. Although Crappie normally hold in deep water during the Winter, there are times you can find them shallow. This will usually occur after a few days of warm weather. Crappie are likely to be only a few feet deep over brush or you may find them on the flats relating to structure.
The right tackle will make you or break you for Crappie fishing in the Winter.
Winter Crappie fishing requires you to downsize your tackle. The same tackle you used back in the Summer and Spring will not be as effective in Winter. Light and Ultralight rods in the 6 to 7 foot range, small minnows or 1/32 ounce jigs and four pound test line are the norm. Crappie become sluggish and finicky in the Winter, and they won't chase bait. In fact, they want the bait right in front of their mouth during most of the Winter.
I like using 6 to 7 foot Light to Ultra Light spinning rods with a stiff back. I prefer graphite over fiberglass rods because Crappie bite softly in the Winter. Graphite rods help you feel these soft bites.
When looking for Winter Crappie, my other terminal tackle includes small jigs, spinners and minnows. I use 2 to 4 pound test line. If using minnows, I'll use a #6 Tru Turn gold aberdeen hooks. Jigs or ice fishing spoons should be in the 1/32 and 1/64 ounce area. Crappie don't like large baits during the Winter, I'm not sure why but I've always caught more with small baits than with big baits and heavy line.
Cold Crappie won't chase down bait during the Winter. This means you must put your offering in front of their nose and leave it there. In fact, many times I've had more success by not imparting any motion with my jig. Make it easy for the Crappie to eat your bait. This isn't rocket science, so don't get all technical with your presentation. Just hold it in front of them, they'll bite it!
Visiting the links below will take you to resources about catching Crappie anytime of the year.
About the Author:
Winter crappie fishing can be difficult to say the least. These hyperlinks will lead you to other diy Crappie fishing articles discussing how to catch Crappie.
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