Thread: New to Crappie fishing. Help!

Originally Posted by gcrarms1904

Guys I'm new to crappie fishing and taking my boat out for the first time this weekend. Supposed to be great weather for January. I fish on the Tombigbee river. What rigs/bait would you use this time of year considering it's going to be 70 Degrees this weekend. Any advice an Tips would be greatly appreciated.

I'm not familiar with that area or tactics but as a new crappie fisherman, you need to be much more concerned with water temps than ambient temps. One nice day after a cold snap will fire up fishermen but it take a few degrees warmer water to fire up wintertime crappie normally.

Welcome to the site. My folks had some good friends from Tupelo who have passed on.

What Mrdux said. The outside temp does not matter as much as the water temps. I have never fished that water so maybe some of the other guys who do will chime in shortly.

Welcome to the addiction my friend!! I have always felt it was more important to 'hunt' crappie before you 'catch' crappie. That being said, I'd start shallow (3-5 fow) and work presentations slow to fast, not spending much time on either. If they aren't in the 3-5 fow range, go to 6-9 fow range and do the same. Main thing to remember is, "if they aren't there, they aren't there".....don't hang around in unproductive waters or you'll go nuts. Keep moving till you 'find' them. Look for balls of shad, or birds diving for shad, anything that says fish are feeding. This may sound stewpit, but as a beginner, I'd take a little note book along and make notes of water temps, air temps, cloudy or not, wind speeds and direction, methods tried, jigs used, depths fished, etc. After several trips and a review of notes taken, you'll find some patterns, some consistencies that'll help in this learning process. Main thing is be patient, and go with a plan....and HAVE FUN!!!

I fish the Tombigbee fairly regularly further south of your home town of Tupelo. The river is more stained here than it is at Bay Springs. Normally they can be caught during the winter in my area anywhere from 12-18' deep in water ranging from 15-25. The clearer waters of the Bay Springs area can cause the winter crappie to concentrate much deeper. I love winter fishing because once you do locate them, they are consistently caught on the same pattern until something disrupts the pattern.


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Guys I truly appreciate the advice.

Originally Posted by feeshrman

I fish the Tombigbee fairly regularly further south of your home town of Tupelo. The river is more stained here than it is at Bay Springs. Normally they can be caught during the winter in my area anywhere from 12-18' deep in water ranging from 15-25. The clearer waters of the Bay Springs area can cause the winter crappie to concentrate much deeper. I love winter fishing because once you do locate them, they are consistently caught on the same pattern until something disrupts the pattern.


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This ole boy knows the Tenn Tom. Great advise is hard to get. I'd take his in a heart beat.

Thanks Bill


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I fish Aliceville a lot, target deep drop offs with structure. I've been doing good on white jig or a combination white /??.