For the 1000 th time, where do the Crappies go when the weather cools off?
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For the 1000 th time, where do the Crappies go when the weather cools off?
Most of the large ones, go to open water around creek channels/ brush and just sit there, suspended., During Fall the Barametric pressure is high and that forces the fish deep. North & east winds mean high pressure. When a low is coming," south thur west they normally bite better. They feed less in cold water. My 2cents worth.
I think that is why long lining is popular in the fall and winter. It lets you cover a lot of water when the fish are scattered. I am still trying to learn all these techniques myself.
They tend to follow the shad or other baitfish in open water....the white crappie that is
Thanks, for the replies. I just can't find them after I stop trolling cranks and jigs in the heat of summer and early fall.
Midtin ;-)
According to my experiences at Watts Bar ... the White Crappie tend to stay out on the deep channel edges, and the Black Crappie like to hang around deadfalls or brushpiles in the 25-30' depths. The White Crappie seem to stay out where they were during the Summer heat, while the Black Crappie seem to be the ones that follow the Shad back into the creeks in early Fall. I have been known to catch them (Black Crappie) as shallow as 10-15' deep around brush, docks, and cliff banks (Oct-Nov) and as deep as 30' on deadfall trees.
Of course, a lot depends on what "type" of lake you're fishing, too !! But, overall ... they gotta eat, so finding the baitfish is key #1, and finding ambush spots where the baitfish can be intercepted is key #2 (considering the depths being used by the baitfish as a factor).
... cp :kewl
Most will be where food isn't far. Find baitballs and you find crappie.
They go South. They're cold too.
Except those that have heavy coats!Quote:
Originally Posted by skeetbum
I catch big crappie all winter long no matter how cold and if I hardly ever fish in more than 12 fow. Usully the averay winter depth for me is 6-8 fow but last year I found them in 3 fow or less fishing 18 inches deep. I had VERY little company. No one seems to fish that shallow when it's cold. Years of trial and error is why my usual average was 6-8 fow until I got the side scan and started seeing schools of fish super shallow.