Seasonal patterns in the north - above Mason Dixon line

[Charman03]

I have some questions for you northern crappie experts.

I have done well all fall and winter, but i struggle every year right around late February until the spawn.

Once the water temperature get to around 40 degrees and the days get a little longer the crappies completely vacate the areas where I do well in the fall and winter. I’ve been searching with the livescope and not finding them. And I typically never do until they get up shallow and spawn.

Where do you northern guys generally do well at now? I’ve heard the fish move up in shallow areas where the water warms faster, overall I’m just completely stumped once they leave the wintering grounds. Hoping to find a little more success this year from now until the spawn.

[silverside]

This is my best bet. Fish hold near brush on 10 ft flats that are real close to a sharp drop off. They easily travel back and forth depending on current weather but don't want to travel far.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[chaunc]

Look for shallow rocky areas that warm up during sunny days. Causeways, riprap, and rock piles are preferred. Also check steel docking poles that get a lot of sun. They heat up the water around them and bring in the fish. Won’t hurt to check any or all of these areas in late February and March.

[Ketchn]

a live scoper here on a water body full of them told us this about that ....
we couldn't see any either and they seem to flat out evaporate from the planet ....
it is mind boggling to say the least and he said this .........
the fish are FLAT on the bottom so tight you cant see them with electronics , they are only visible when they rise to the jig...
said he goes to spots that have bait and then puts his jig right tight to the bottom until he finds a few that will rise to it

[Les Young]

Yep they’ll definitely get flat on the bottom & not just up north either.

[Bricks]

I have noticed this too as Ketchen mentioned and up here many times they are constantly on the move, slowly heading towards spawning grounds. If you know the area well enough, they can be spotted on your graph. Looking for areas that you have gone over and see basically nothing on the bottom. If you run over the same area and see what looks like weeds ( especially if deeper then weeds normally grow ) could very well be Crappies or other fish laying belly to the bottom.