Question about Crappie feeding habits in tide effected waters

Looking for best time and areas to fish for crappie living in waters effected by tide.
I have been fishing for crappie for some 50 plus years. I fish mainly rivers, dead lakes, lakes and very large stock ponds. But my love is bigger river systems. But those that are tide controlled gives me my biggest challenge.
I am looking for advice and knowledge to help me increase catches and to stop spending so much dead time I call it on the water when they just ain’t going to bite even when all conditions are perfect other than the tide. Thanks for your help.


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Almost all I fish is tidal waters on the gulf coast. I watch the NOAA website Advanced Hydrologic Prediction website to get a accurate pattern of the peak High's and Low's. From there I fish 2 hrs before the forecast change to 2 hrs after. I catch 95% Black Crappie, and my belief is they are more aggressive during NIP tides. I know numerous crappie anglers who will not fish on a NIP tide. Here is the link to the NOAA website. I think Robertsdale is within this link.

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service: Jackson

Thank you, my hope is to gain knowledge and helpful information like what you sent. As I really didn’t grow up near tide controlled waters. And you can almost throw out the door feeding times. When that tide changes as you stated that’s when their most aggressive not first light or just before dusk. Thanks again. I also would like to know best areas. Right now it’s mainly fishing structure that they can get behind for protection when bait flows by them for an easy catch.


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With over 1000 trees marked throughout the Mississippi-Eastern Louisiana river deltas and basins I have learned one MAJOR thing, not all structure recruits Crappie. Stuff you would think held fish all the time never produces a Crappie. Catfish, Goo, other Panfish, even Gar but no Crappie. If I had the answer to why I think it works that way it would be material for a book. So that statement of Fact behind us, then as a troubleshooter by nature you divide and conquer! Once locating and marking structure you have to see if the newly found structure recruits Crappie. Some tidal spots recruit on a seasonal basis, some hold fish year around. Since father time is always working to cut our time short I fish new water like I am Speckled Trout fishing. If I don't get a bite in 2-3 minutes I'm moving to the next marked new structure. If three spots in a row in the same area doesn't produce I move to another area. I divide rivers in half, then half again, till I find productive waters. There are trees marked on my Humminbird that have been reliably recruiting Crappie for 15-20 years, then some that have a few 75% of the time, some a few 50% of the time, if less than 50% of the time I drive by them in the future. You have to fish them all at first. Time management doing that is my absolute goal working out new water. Now 20 years later I catch fish everyday, I just don't let people know it.

I like the dividing technique it’s interesting and full of good sound advice. I just turned 62 and I have been fishing since I started walking. I have spots on rivers that I can go to as you and catch crappie in the same places or within a few 100 yards depending on the time of season. It’s the tide waters that runs me nuts and I have gotten some very good pointers from this site. I to fish waters in Mississippi and extreme Eastern La.. But I live in LA. That’s lower Alabama!Got moved for the job in 93. I am originally from Mississippi and I keep a Non-Resident license for Mississippi. It’s there I rarely go to catch my limits in a short time and don’t pull it off. My grandson was born and raised here in AL. He went on his first fishing trip with me a couple of weeks ago in Mississippi , his first trip fishing there ever. We limited out in about 2 hours and he asked why did I ever move. So being most of the water where I am at is either tide controlled or moves due to lock and dam system I have got to figure it out to teach him.
That’s why I am reaching out to you guys. And who knows he is only 11 by the time he finishes school and college maybe he will get a awesome offer on a job back in Mississippi then I can just tell him where to go or maybe will him my Garmin with all the locations already marked. I am sure you and I fish some of the same waters. Thanks again brother.


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