Wintertime fishing

Hey, guys. Thinking of hanging it up here in Central Texas for wintertime fishing as I cannot seem to see a crappie much less buy one. Friend (guide) says find the bait you will find the fish. Also said go deep. So, in 54 degree water I went from 30 fow to 43 fow (about as deep as Lake Austin gets) searching for bait balls and fish. I have a Helix 10 and side view, down view, or traditional sonar found very few possibles. No bites either. Could someone post some pics of what I am supposed to look for? Either that or I am going to hit up Ketchn to take me dock fishing. Thanks.


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Are there any defined creek channels that the crappie would be using as a highway to and from shallower haunts ...??

Rickie

We have few coves that would have channels as it is a dammed up river (Colorado) but I suppose there may be some. In the summer we often find points emanating from the few coves we have that hold crappie particularly when they have the smallest of structure.


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When we fish Texas fish bridge piers.

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Wish we had some. Only bridge is 360 bridge (penny packer) and the columns are on dry land. Thx for the thought, though.


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This information can possibly be used as a baseline on most any body of water ...

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/archi...appie-degrees/

Rickie

Winter time is the best. Maybe you’re getting bites but don’t even know it.

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

This information can possibly be used as a baseline on most any body of water ...

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/archi...appie-degrees/

Rickie

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Thanks, Rickie. Our water is just now down to 54 degrees and will probably stop at 50 degrees. Just does not get too cold here in Central Texas. I will just keep plugging on. Our guides continue to say find bait balls in deep water. Still looking. Assume down view and traditional sonar would show best but not sure.


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You should be able to see the shad balls on all 3, DI, Si, regular sonar. Si would be my preference.


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Here is my thoughts, and also my struggles. I have heard that crappie school tight during winter, and I have witnessed that. In my mind, the tighter they’re schooled, the smaller the overall area they will occupy. This would make them tougher to pinpoint, but once found, then it could be on for awhile. Again, that’s my way of thinking. Maybe someone with more experience will either verify or nullify this

Was told this also. It is difficult to just idle along looking for this image, though. Tried deepest channels, Rickies suggestion about defined creek channels to coves, and many other options but not having a lot of luck. There is bound to be a method to this madness. I am not ready to just hang around the house and certainly do not want to chase green carp again.


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Are you talking about Travis or that long snake of a lake below it?

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Originally Posted by IceNitro

Are you talking about Travis or that long snake of a lake below it?

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Lake Austin, the snake below it (smile).

I have a couple of questions for you dhaire. 1:Do you have a GPS map card? I assume with the cool water you fish the deeper lower end. 2:Can you give me a section to analyze? Such as s pleasant valley rd to 35 ; or 35 to s lamar blvd ect... You can search CDC for what crappie look like on fishfinder.

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Originally Posted by IceNitro

I have a couple of questions for you dhaire. 1:Do you have a GPS map card? I assume with the cool water you fish the deeper lower end. 2:Can you give me a section to analyze? Such as s pleasant valley rd to 35 ; or 35 to s lamar blvd ect... You can search CDC for what crappie look like on fishfinder.

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I have a Lakemaster card from Humminbird. I fish the lower end (toward the east, downstream) because it is deeper. The water temp this time of year is within 2 degrees from each end of the lake as very little water is let out from Lake Travis (upstream). The 360 bridge (Penny Packer) East to Tom Miller Dam would be a great section to analyze. I have seen crappie on charts on Crappie.com but they seem to normally be associated with structure and not suspended around bait balls which I have been told to look for. Thanks for your help.

At the risk of being redundant up here in Yankee land. Crappies prefer a 12-22 foot zone except for spawning season. There are other exceptions like an early warm spring day in March. May cause an insect hatch and I have caught crappie .That their dorsal fin was protruding out of the water. As minnows are scarce that time of year up here.

They love to suspend at almost anytime of year. During ice season I have caught them as shallow as 12 ft in 40 ft of water near a major point. When they do suspend it is usually near some kind of structure. If your Humminbird is capable of running Smart Strike you may want to consider upgrading your card. By plugging in specie and other info it will give suggestions on where to fish.Not all suggestions pan out but some do.

The fellas who have replied know their stuff. Glad you narrowed search area. That's quite an intimidating lake to a guy on the prairie, like me. I looked at it on Lakemaster, Google Maps and Google Earth. I would look for abnormalities on structure/river channel (Rickie/Redge). The points of the incoming creeks; Dry*, Mayfield* & Bee; look promising. I would look for any type of cover on or around the break lines in those areas ; and the points of the cuts/coves up Bee Creek too. The steep ledges of the structure south of Bee Creek look to be worth checking out; easy access to shallow water from deep. On stretches of stable warm weather they can go shallow* (hays47); plenty of that on east side and creek mouths. Usually this time of year you have to fish many depths to find biting fish. I start fishing whatever I can see on fish finder (suspended or on bottom). I don't know about chirp but usually you cant easily distinguish species, just that there is something there. At first it takes a considerable investment of time to find them but when you do...

Thanks, guys. Great insights. Once I get back from deer lease I plan on trying many of the suggestions. It sure helps when you fellows share your years of experience. Hats off.


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Ok, back from a successful hunt. Two Axis for the freezer. Have many of you used the Smart Strike? Considering ordering one for my Helix 10. I have a LakeMaster card already.


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Originally Posted by dhaire

Ok, back from a successful hunt. Two Axis for the freezer. Have many of you used the Smart Strike? Considering ordering one for my Helix 10. I have a LakeMaster card already.

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Been showing mrdux some SmartStrike features on his own HELIX ... He was interested is seeing if SmartStrike would should him areas not as obvious for clientele guide trips ...

While SmartStrike will not show 100% of every spot you personally know ... It will show you areas you may not have thought about ...

BTW ... The SmartStrike regional card is a fully functional LakeMaster mapping card with all the features of LakeMaster ... and with the additional SmartStrike capability ...
https://www.humminbird.com/general.a...d=1321&id=5847

There are also some units capable of using the SmartStrike layer when added to a Chart Select lake map purchase ...
https://www.humminbird.com/Category/...y/ChartSelect/

Rickie

Thanks, Rickie, once again. I ordered one from David at Shut up and fish.


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So whatever happened to global warming? :Rofl
I guess the polar ice caps quit melting with it being as cold as it is.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dhaire

Hey, guys. Thinking of hanging it up here in Central Texas for wintertime fishing as I cannot seem to see a crappie much less buy one. Friend (guide) says find the bait you will find the fish. Also said go deep. So, in 54 degree water I went from 30 fow to 43 fow (about as deep as Lake Austin gets) searching for bait balls and fish. I have a Helix 10 and side view, down view, or traditional sonar found very few possibles. No bites either. Could someone post some pics of what I am supposed to look for? Either that or I am going to hit up Ketchn to take me dock fishing. Thanks.


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I think you may be to deep.

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Originally Posted by IceNitro

The fellas who have replied know their stuff. Glad you narrowed search area. That's quite an intimidating lake to a guy on the prairie, like me. I looked at it on Lakemaster, Google Maps and Google Earth. I would look for abnormalities on structure/river channel (Rickie/Redge). The points of the incoming creeks; Dry*, Mayfield* & Bee; look promising. I would look for any type of cover on or around the break lines in those areas ; and the points of the cuts/coves up Bee Creek too. The steep ledges of the structure south of Bee Creek look to be worth checking out; easy access to shallow water from deep. On stretches of stable warm weather they can go shallow* (hays47); plenty of that on east side and creek mouths. Usually this time of year you have to fish many depths to find biting fish. I start fishing whatever I can see on fish finder (suspended or on bottom). I don't know about chirp but usually you cant easily distinguish species, just that there is something there. At first it takes a considerable investment of time to find them but when you do...

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I forgot to add riprap near channel can be GOOD. I would like to hear some stories about smartstrike cards too...

Well, we broke the code. Friend and guide sent me a screenshot of 2D Mega with crappie balled up on the bottom. He was good enough to also tell me where we might find them. We did and slammed some slabs! Turns out everyone was correct. I just needed to see an example then “wham” there they were. Now have to improve my approach by going into the wind, finding them, then easing into spot lock. They do move but once I determine which direction I can ease along with them. Boy are they big ones! I am so appreciative of others willing to share insights. This forum is fantastic and my crappie chasing friends are out of this world. Thanks everyone for your insights.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by dhaire

Well, we broke the code. Friend and guide sent me a screenshot of 2D Mega with crappie balled up on the bottom. He was good enough to also tell me where we might find them. We did and slammed some slabs! Turns out everyone was correct. I just needed to see an example then “wham” there they were. Now have to improve my approach by going into the wind, finding them, then easing into spot lock. They do move but once I determine which direction I can ease along with them. Boy are they big ones! I am so appreciative of others willing to share insights. This forum is fantastic and my crappie chasing friends are out of this world. Thanks everyone for your insights.


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Any chance you might post the picture for us to see? Thanks and glad you figured it out either way.

I have to figure this out. How about this?
Attachment 285846


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And here is the photo from my friend.
Attachment 285847


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Thanks for the pictures.

Very interesting. Looks like your using “bottom zoom”? I’ve used that feature for 15 years fishing offshore but it never crossed my mind to try it in freshwater.

What water temp are you looking at? How are you catching them that deep?

Water temp (surface) is 52 degrees. Small gray jig (same color as minnows or shad) held still. Going to try minnows once it gets over this Article Front coming in next week.


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Good to hear your on them! Thanks for following up with us ; with pictures too... Very nice!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dhaire

Water temp (surface) is 52 degrees. Small gray jig (same color as minnows or shad) held still. Going to try minnows once it gets over this Article Front coming in next week.


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Artic.........love spell check.


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Winter fishing???
How about a 30 pike on 2lb test??
LOL!


https://s26.postimg.org/4zfp5shw9/SL_rsd_9920.jpg



That took a little over 5 minutes to land that sL!MeR.....

Those mega pictures are going to help me a lot when I get mine. Thank you.