Personally, I don't think the weather hinders the fish as much as it hinders us. The rain, the freezing temps, and the wind will make fishing pretty miserable and even dangerous for the next few days. However, with all of that said, I have caught some of the biggest crappie in my life while I had to break the ice off of the minnow net between minnows. It is the wind that is the most dangerous, especially in smaller boats. Good luck when you decide to venture out.