just getting started

[rww1977]

I am brand new to crappie fishing and was hoping to find some good advice on here. I'm wondering what the water temperatures are typically in Georgia this time of year. I've read a bunch about water temperature and crapppie behavior, but everything I seen about winter crappie is dealing with water temps in the 40's and the couple time times I've tried this month, the temps were around 58-59 degrees? So was wondering if this is a cold water for Georgia crappie and wondering where they might be located this time of year, depth, structure, etc. Like I said, I am brand new to this yet, and have only fished a couple of times in local PFAs. Figured I'd start out with them until I was more comfortable using the depth finder and trolling and such. Anyone with any advice for Dodge PFA or Ocmulgee PFA would be greatly appreciated too. Thanks Alot.

[studawg170]

Struck out the only time I went to Dodge but man did that place look fishy...Lots of deep water that should hold fish this time of year.

[thankfull]

With the water in the 50 s they should be shallow and as the temps. drop they will move deeper.

[rww1977]

Yeah I've only caught a few both times at Dodge. Couple of nice ones though. caught a bunch of little basss trolling. So are the waters gonna keep cooling off? and when you say shallow, what depths are you talking about?

[litewirehooker]

I've heard of one fellow catching some good Crappie at the Ocmulgee Lake. I believe he was fishing around the trees with minnows but using a litewirehook jighead. He was just easing along around the tree tops. When the temps drop, the water temp will fall. Where we fish (Lake Talquin), the water temps is between 59 in the morning and 63 in the afternoon. When the temps fall, the fish get deeper.......and normally harder to catch. My thoughts.

[rww1977]

thanks lightwire. I'll keep that in mind when I'm looking for the depths to fish.

[papasage]

i would try close to the bottom . when still fishing or dropshotting slow troling . usealy start by dropping to bottom and cranking a couple oftime and moove verry slow in dep water channel or drop off.or crank up just above what you most on the depth finder .
welcom to crapie.com and the Ga bord . check out our gittogather at lake blacksher March 24 th you will meet some fine folk there and lear some good info ...

[Shine Runner]

Welcome aboard. Dropping water temps will get them feeding really good till some where below 50. Of course several warm days in a row will change things from week to week. Some good advice posted above. The closer to the spring moon phases you can throw water temp out of the boat. I have seen crappie trying to spawn at the end of February when the water temps were below 60. Right now river channels and ledges are probably holding the majority of the crappie. They will move up and down in the water column more than up and down the lake till closer to February. I need to go spend more time at Ocmulgee. Lots of good deep timber and it was stocked with white crappie if I remember right. Not sure how often or if they do re-stock it. One of the few that allow live bait on a PFA. I want to go practice jigging single pole timber there to expand my arsenal. Good luck and look forward to seeing more posts from you.

[rww1977]

Thanks Shine for the input. I'll be on the look out for some good drop offs this weekend. Definately plenty of standing timber at Ocmulgee. It's down a good bit right now. Let me know if you make down that way and what you do there.