I can't take it anymore

[Crappie chasin fool]

I gotta go wet a line ASAP. Thinking bout going to ky lake tomorrow but don't know if I can get a boat in. Anybody know what the ice situation is like? I'm wanting to put in around sugar bay but at this point I'd fish anywhere

[Wiskers]

I gotta go wet a line ASAP. Thinking bout going to ky lake tomorrow but don't know if I can get a boat in. Anybody know what the ice situation is like? I'm wanting to put in around sugar bay but at this point I'd fish anywhere

I'm at the mouth of Blood and have seen very little ice in the bays on the LBL side. Ginger looks clear as far as I can see back in her. I betcha a buck you can put in at Fenton right there at the bridge.

Looks like I can see ripples on the water in the mouth of Blood.

[Quackrstackr]

What color are those ripples?

[Wiskers]

What color are those ripples?

Look in that box of chocolates that you got your sweety for Valentines Day. That's bout the best description I can give ya Tim.

[Bronson]

Look in that box of chocolates that you got your sweety for Valentines Day. That's bout the best description I can give ya Tim.

Wiskers, with water temps in the 30's and dirty water, how decent do you think the bite might be? And would you fish deep, shallow, or do you think regardless of what you do, likely the pickins would be slim??

[Wiskers]

Wiskers, with water temps in the 30's and dirty water, how decent do you think the bite might be? And would you fish deep, shallow, or do you think regardless of what you do, likely the pickins would be slim??

Man... You hit me with a TUFF 1 there. Crappie are like a math equation. You alter 1 little thing in the scenario and you get a completely different out come.

Where do I start? Contrary to what many people think you CAN catch fish in muddy water. I've seen my Granddaddy catch crappie down in the river bottom lakes when the water was so muddy you darn near had to tamp a minnow down in it with a boat paddle. Well maybe not quite that bad but muddy none the less.

I always have better luck in muddy water, with a large profile, dark bait, tipped with a lively minnow. 1. You want something they can see. Big, dark, bait. 2. Vibration. Curly tail with a minnow and or spinner. 3. Movement. don't dead stick. Move that bait. Create that vibration to help them fine you and entice that reaction strike. 4. Scent. Experiment with nibbles and other scents. Stack the deck in your favor! 5. Last but not least if all else fails... Dynamite ALWAYS WORKS!

Now for the water temp variable. A crappie will choose a comfortable water temp over ANYTHING else 99% of the time. This time of year crappie will start moving toward that comfort zone. Dirty water will soak up sun and provide shade. You'd be surprised how shallow these blacks will go this time of year. Depending on whether the lake is rising or falling they may be 3' deep in 5' of water or 3' deep suspended over brush in 15' or 20' of water. Naturally they'll wanna move up in the bays on a rising, warming lake. There again they may be on a main lake hump that comes up shallow. That sunshine on that muddy water is like shining a heat lamp on a dark blanket.

Fish in dirty water will almost always relate to some sort of cover or brush. Think of it as if you were walking down a pitch dark hallway. You'll kinda feel your way around to stay oriented to where you are. They use breaks and cover the same way as you do the wall. They know the bait fish are gonna do the same thing. I don't believe the fish move much under these conditions cause they know the bait can feel them moving around too. I also believe that because they don't move much, they burn less calories and feed a little less. That's just a theory and I have nothing to back it up with but experience.

I could go on all day with different scenarios but I won't bore ya with my opinions.

In closing I think with the coming warming trend and the lake on a slow fall some fish will start venturing further up the creeks and move up in the water column. I wouldn't be surprised if somebody caught a few blacks 5' or 6' deep by this time next week. I don't think they'll stay there, but they'll check that shallow stuff for a few days. Keep in mind... That "shallow stuff" may be on a creek on the main lake or secondary creek channel or the may be high on brush in deep water. Spider rig'n the creeks in the mouths of the bays, close to the breaks, at different depths, (till you locate fish) might be a good pattern.

When I get off (Thursday) I'll probably hit some deep brush and fish it top to bottom and then break out the Spider Rig'n gear. I'm gonna say that the lion's share of the fish will be relating to brush that comes up high in the water column in 20' to 15' of water. This time of year there's gonna be fish from 30' to 5' depending on the conditions. Just remember those fish are gonna be just as fired up about the weather change as we are. I think with the shad kills we've had there'll be a decent bite as long as the weather stays on a positive trend. There'll be some good days and some slow days for about the next 1000 years.

I got a plan for when I get off! It might not be all right but I bet some part of it is. They can't hide from me! I'm too hard headed. I'll find'um sooner or later.:

[Bronson]

Wiskers, Great Info! I appreciate you taking time to answer and for going into such great detail. I'll copy and paste your response so I don't lose it. You should write a book. With your sense of humor and detailed information, I'd be one of the first ones to buy it. Thanks!

[Wiskers]

Wiskers, Great Info! I appreciate you taking time to answer and for going into such great detail. I'll copy and paste your response so I don't lose it. You should write a book. With your sense of humor and detailed information, I'd be one of the first ones to buy it. Thanks!

Thanks buddy! I've learn a good bit from all these guys on here..

I have a tendency to get long winded but I don't wanna leave anything out.

[bp80]

Great info Wiskers! Thanks for sharing!!