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What water temp do the crappie start moving back into the stickups/shallower water? I just checked a couple local lakes and they are in the 41-43 degree range for the outflow. I would guess surface temp would be a few degrees warmer on a nice day?
I am ready to start my first season of serious crappie/gill fishing.
They'll do it now! These are some fish that we caught at Rend Lake the other day in Southern Illinois and we pulled several of these out of 2-4 ft. of water. The water temperatures were in the 40's. There is no majic number for this to happen. Most of the time it has to do with the conditions and where the food is. Don't waste your time waiting for water temps to rise. Get out and fish.....you will be surprised where the fish show up.
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Was that 2-4' actual depth or 2-4' deep over 16' depth? I've caught them in Lake Barkley 2-4' deep when the water temps were in the low 40s and the air temps in the high 30s, but they were suspended over brush in 24' water. The sun was shining bright, about this time of the year too.Quote:
Originally Posted by dkb23
Last year I was pulling slab black crappie out of 4 feet and less of water the first week of March. They were holding on stakes and brush and water was running around 50 degrees. They were also on a few specific rock/rip-rap banks as well.
That was actual depth. Not suspended. Fishing a bank with brush that was out deeper and some of them fish came shallow too. Caught them shallow like that all the way up to 12 ft deep. Had a blast.Quote:
Originally Posted by justinp61
thanks everyone. It is 2 more weeks until I get a day off, so it sounds like the fishing should be good be then.
Anyone on here fish Yatesville or Grayson Lakes?
I have been pulling them out of the rip rap below Pickwick Dam all week. The water temp....that I measured....was 45 degrees. These Crappie were about 3 feet off the bank in about 4 feet of water, laying on the bottom, which sloped steeply down to a 20 foot depth. I was throwing a 1/64th ounce Trout Magnet and would start my retrieve as soon as it hit the water and I could see the Crappie flash that big side as soon as they grabbed the lure. That was pretty neat. After the rain we are getting here the water is going to warm up a few degrees and the water level where I fish is going to come up about 7 or 8 feet in the next few days as Pickwick will have to let some of that water go. I plan on being on my spot there Monday morning as I expect it to be on fire, and unless I miss my guess I am counting on a 30 fish day.
Regards
I think the water temp needs to be around 49-50 degrees before you get much movement by the crappie. I know you can catch some when the water is a little colder but sometimes it's hard to find them. Catching em' is not as hard as findin' em...:) But you know, it's fun just being out there lookin' for em'...Thumbs Up