high water crappie behavior

[colayn]

From reading all the post it seems we are all having a hard time with the crappie in this high water.
I thought this would be a good time to get some education. Would really like to know what is going on with crappie in high water and then they start pulling the lake hard.
Seems most feel they move out and suspend.
Anybody have any ideas what or why the crappie are doing under these conditions?
Anybody seen other behavior besides suspending? ie: moving in very tight to cover.

Would really like to hear the opinons on this . Proven techniques for catching even better.
Thanks, and be safe out there. Lots of debries around here in central Ky.

[CrappiePappy]

Falling water seems to be a concern to fish ... instinct is for them to move away from shallows, so as not to get stranded. Probably instinctive for them to not try & nest in these conditions, too, even if the water temps are good. It's instinctive for Crappie to not drop all their eggs into one nest ... helps keep the gene pool "clean", and offering protection from predators, as well as falling water. The faster the drop in water levels, the more it signals danger to the fish.
Rising water opens up new territory, as in feeding grounds & nesting sites. Falling water signals it's time to retreat to safer (deeper) areas.
This time of year, as water temps rise, the warmer waters are going to be in the upper levels. Crappie will seek out the level at which they are comfortable, yet still safe (camoflauged by depth), as well as the level that the foodsource is likely present in. They probably suspend during water level drops, so as to stay in that same temp/safety/food zone. They're scattered & hard to find, for the simple reason that they're not schooled tightly, during this period, like they are most of the rest of the year ... and they're spread out over a wider range of the bank, while they're feeding up for the rigors of the spawn & nest building and guarding, so they're going to back off from receeding water as individuals, rather than a cohesive school.

Aside from backing off & suspending, the only other behavior I've experienced is for them to drop down to the bottom (out deeper) & wait for stable conditions. Though that may be as much a product of major fronts, as dropping water levels.

As I don't usually fish these conditions, I have no "proven techniques" to offer. But, faced with these conditions, while already fishing ... I'd probably resort to slow drifting live bait, like small minnows or Shad ... downsizing to 1/64 - 1/32oz jigs (slow trolling) ... or just packing up and coming home, and waiting for more favorable conditions.

... cp

[fisher_i_am]

Pappy, very nice info thanks for sharing. Wondering if you could comment on if you think this years predicted sharp fall in water level will hurt the spawn considering where temps are...my impression is that it could if most nests are in water that will dry up with the draw down?

[CatFan]

Pappy, very nice info thanks for sharing. Wondering if you could comment on if you think this years predicted sharp fall in water level will hurt the spawn considering where temps are...my impression is that it could if most nests are in water that will dry up with the draw down?

One thing to keep in mind is that some lakes will go to summer pool in a week or so. That may limit the drawdown unless they absolutely open the gates this week. For example, Kentucky Lake is at about 363, which means they'd have to drop it 9ft to get it to winter pool, but they switch to summer pool on 1 April, making the drop only 4ft.

[CrappiePappy]

Pappy, very nice info thanks for sharing. Wondering if you could comment on if you think this years predicted sharp fall in water level will hurt the spawn considering where temps are...my impression is that it could if most nests are in water that will dry up with the draw down?

Under the conditions you've stated ... yes, you're probably right. That is, IF the fish are actually spawning, when the drop takes place. I don't think they're spawning, right now, but are more than likely just in pre-spawn feeding mode & nest site searching mode. Even when the water levels are stable, water temps are right, and weather patterns have calmed down ... they don't all come busting into the shallows to spawn, at the same time. If you read the tagging study, from a few years back, you will see how the two species of Crappie relate to water levels/temps & weather : Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources - Preliminary Results

... cp

[j creeker]

Thanks for the link.....that is interesting!!!

Under the conditions you've stated ... yes, you're probably right. That is, IF the fish are actually spawning, when the drop takes place. I don't think they're spawning, right now, but are more than likely just in pre-spawn feeding mode & nest site searching mode. Even when the water levels are stable, water temps are right, and weather patterns have calmed down ... they don't all come busting into the shallows to spawn, at the same time. If you read the tagging study, from a few years back, you will see how the two species of Crappie relate to water levels/temps & weather : Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources - Preliminary Results

... cp

[jiggshooter]

for me personally if the water gets high ill fish every bit of cover possible and find structure on my depth finder and switch to a 1 24 0z jighead and let it fall slow to keep it in the strike zone longer

[Wiskers]

One thing to keep in mind is that some lakes will go to summer pool in a week or so. That may limit the drawdown unless they absolutely open the gates this week. For example, Kentucky Lake is at about 363, which means they'd have to drop it 9ft to get it to winter pool, but they switch to summer pool on 1 April, making the drop only 4ft.

On April 1 they start a gradual accent to summer pool. I bet ya they draw it down to at least 365 unless we get a bunch more rain. They usually like to spread that 5' rise to summer pool over about a month if they can. I would like to see them stop at 359.

[Alphahawk]

I am a bank fisherman and my go to Crappie hole is about 700 yards long and 50 yards wide under normal water conditions, and 25 to 40 feet deep. The depth for the past couple of weeks has been well over 60 feet. This happens at some point every Spring. As long as I have been fishing it...which is more than a decade at this spot.....the Crappie will move up into the road bed that I would normally be standing on to cast from. The road bed is covered with 7 or 8 feet of water and the Crappie are holding at about 4 feet deep and only about 6 feet from the bank. Every time the water gets this high they have always done this at this location.


Regards

[gone_fishing]

Nice job Pappy on the high water info thanks. The main thing I have learned about fishing early in the year is fish all depths. Last Friday afternoon I found them a foot to three feet under the surface in 5- 10 feet of water. Yesterday they were right on the bottom for the most part in 10 feet of water. Of course every lake is different.