40 degree water

[mike83350]

Am I wasting my time trying to catch crappie in 40 degree water? I have never caught one before. I know literally nothing.

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[CrappiePappy]

No, you're not wasting your time. Remember ... Crappie are caught thru the ice !!

Now, you will have to find them, first ... then tempt them with your offering of choice, before you have any chance of catching any. And you'll usually have to do very slow to dead still presentations, and possibly even live bait offerings, to get them to bite.

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[DockShootinJack]

No, you're not wasting your time. Remember ... Crappie are caught thru the ice !!

Now, you will have to find them, first ... then tempt them with your offering of choice, before you have any chance of catching any. And you'll usually have to do very slow to dead still presentations, and possibly even live bait offerings, to get them to bite.

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. Welcome

[mike83350]

No, you're not wasting your time. Remember ... Crappie are caught thru the ice !!

Now, you will have to find them, first ... then tempt them with your offering of choice, before you have any chance of catching any. And you'll usually have to do very slow to dead still presentations, and possibly even live bait offerings, to get them to bite.

to Crappie.com

Thanks for the tip! I have no idea if I'm even in the right area, but I may be moving too fast. I'll try slowing things down.

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[CrappiePappy]

Thanks for the tip! I have no idea if I'm even in the right area, but I may be moving too fast. I'll try slowing things down.

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Mike ... it might also help if you tell us where you're fishing, how you're fishing, and with what you're fishing. What electronics, if any, are you using ? What type of cover items are in the water you're fishing (like trees/stumps, vegetation types, rocky banks/bottom or muddy/gravely banks or bottom) ?? It may also help to know which specie of Crappie is present ... black, white, or both.

[mike83350]

Mike ... it might also help if you tell us where you're fishing, how you're fishing, and with what you're fishing. What electronics, if any, are you using ? What type of cover items are in the water you're fishing (like trees/stumps, vegetation types, rocky banks/bottom or muddy/gravely banks or bottom) ?? It may also help to know which specie of Crappie is present ... black, white, or both.

Hey! I have traditional and side scan although I am not an expert with it yet. I am fishing where there is primarily sandy and rocky bottom in Idaho. Black crappie. I am new to the gear, but I have some jigs like bobby garland stroll r. I have crank baits as well. I have some green fire balls to tip with.



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[CrappiePappy]

Hey! I have traditional and side scan although I am not an expert with it yet. I am fishing where there is primarily sandy and rocky bottom in Idaho. Black crappie. I am new to the gear, but I have some jigs like bobby garland stroll r. I have crank baits as well. I have some green fire balls to tip with.

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Okay ... so, are you casting or trolling ?? (or both)

What is the main forage fish in your waters ? (minnows, shad, other species ??)

Black Crappie are more likely than White Crappie to eat bugs & crustaceans along with the forage fish, so don't be afraid of using various shades of brown in your jig bodies.

Right now, with the water being in the 40's ... I'd concentrate on the Northwest & West banks of the lake, as they will warm faster. Look for any wood or vegetation along or out from those banks.

You might also want to send a PM to Noodle Rod and/or Snake River and get some advice from them on baits & techniques.

[mike83350]

Okay ... so, are you casting or trolling ?? (or both)

What is the main forage fish in your waters ? (minnows, shad, other species ??)

Black Crappie are more likely than White Crappie to eat bugs & crustaceans along with the forage fish, so don't be afraid of using various shades of brown in your jig bodies.

Right now, with the water being in the 40's ... I'd concentrate on the Northwest & West banks of the lake, as they will warm faster. Look for any wood or vegetation along or out from those banks.

You might also want to send a PM to Noodle Rod and/or Snake River and get some advice from them on baits & techniques.

I am trying both casting and trolling. I'm not totally sure about the food. Bugs for sure. We have in this particular reservoir tiger muskie, trout, largemouth bass and then crappie.

Thanks for recommending those people!

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[SuperDave336]

And welcome to site.

[CrappiePappy]

Not sure where Black Crappie would be in 40deg water, but once the water warms up to their liking and their spawning urges kick in ... I'd be flogging the banks with those Stroll R's, for sure. You might also want to get a few 1/16oz marabou Road Runner jigs and cast them parallel to the bank as you move down it. (white, chartreuse, & pink/chartreuse should cover most any water clarity you run into)

If you know of a bank with pea gravel & sand ... that could be a good spawning bank. Be advised, though, that Black Crappie can & do spawn in relatively shallow water, plus they tend to stay in those shallow areas for quite some time after the spawning duties are over with. Bays or even pockets on the main lake, that have those conditions (plus maybe a rock pile or brush pile here & there) are also places to explore.

I skipped from 2d (b/w) units straight to Down Image (color) units, then to Livescope (with my DI unit for maps & waypoints) ... so I'm not the one to give any advice on Side View units, but work on getting it dialed in NOW, while the conditions are not as favorable, so you'll be up to speed when the conditions are favorable.

Luck2ya ... and hope to hear of some successful outings. And since we don't have a forum specific to Idaho, feel free to post your reports & pics & further questions on the Main Message Forum.