What to do when you cant find them?

[Eufaula boy]

I am posting this question that we all ask ourselves on a daily basis.

What do you do when you cant find them? I was out this weekend on new water looking for fish and I scanned for two hours and didn't hardly see any fish. Well we say "find the shad" in most cases that leads us to the fish, but not always, I found plenty of shad but no crappie. Sometimes we get so stubborn in thinking they should be here and we should be catching them this way with this technique. Many days on the water I have been completely wrong, felt like I couldnt do anything right. I talk to my fishing friends on a daily basis about location, and presentation, and everyday its a puzzle. So as I idled yesterday I came to three conclusions about not seeing fish on the sonar!

1. Obviuosly they are not here!
2. They are so shallow you cant see them on electronics
3. They are so tight to the wood your not going to see them.

Eventaully after I switched up my technique I began catching fish! Don't beg them with a location or a technique!

I would like to hear your thought process when you catch find them, without just loading up and going home? LOL EB

[Ranger09]

Some days are just like that. Especially in the days of pre-spawn. After many years of fishing I have seen this time and time again on my favorite lake Tenkiller. During the months of Nov. thru Feb. your ripping them. Then comes March and they disappear from the spots you have ripped them for 3 or 4 months. The fish are on the move, and I don't think they move great lengths to reach their spawning grounds like one would expect or think. You would think these fish would move to the mouths of creeks or deeper main lake points to hold for that perfect water temp or moon phase as some rely on to move up close. I have fished all these patterns for years and one would think after searching for and striking out on numberous occasions you would stop and work on a different pattern. But one thing to remember is they are on the move. Covering water this time of year is the only way to find the active fish and cover alot of it. On a recent trip I was catching creek crappie in 14' to 16' DOW but only fishing 8' deep and I got hung up on that depth. For over 2 hrs I went without a bite before I noticed the WT had warmed 2 degrees. I moved from the deeper water closer to the bank and BAM. They are on the move and by just a couple of feet in water depth made for a successful trip. I am like you somewhat EB that I get locked into a technique and have my blinders on alot and some of that has to do with fishing with a buddy thats as stubborn as they come, and doesn't feel comfortable getting out of his comfort zone. Guess thats my answer to alot of the questions you asked is get out of your comfort zone and try something different. A few different conditions really affect crappie and those are rising water, falling water, muddy water, current, LP or HP the day of and day after, and fishing pressure. One more thing I practice on a daily basis when fishing is you don't have to beg em to bite. If there are active fish on the wood, rock, gravel, cutbank, ledge, channel, ect. they are going to hammer you and fast. Yes after awhile the active fish will spook and I have found you can catch a few more of these fish that have gone deep into the wood if you get over it and vertical deep inside the wood.
My thought process is there are always active fish feeding somewhere on this body of water I just have to find em....Ranger

[Eufaula boy]

Dont forget if the water get MUDDY go somewhere else! EB

[catman]

Very informative posts guys, thanks. I think we all have those times and changing my habits is hard to do, but I'm gonna give it a shot.

[Redge]

Looking forward to learning something from this post!! I learned the muddy water with current trick last weekend. You can tell how often I am scratching my head, by looking at it!! Very good subject! One thing I have learned is to trust my FF, if they look to small they are, keep moving!

[Crappie Reaper]

My thought process is there are always active fish feeding somewhere on this body of water I just have to find em....Ranger

Heed this Doug.

[Eufaula boy]

I think my conclusion on muddy water is that they will still bite just have to put it on there nose! Naturally if there are lots of fish there your chances are better getting bit. My othere conclusion about muddy water is they will be shallower than you would ever think. EB