Bad weather crappie question...

Why is it difficult to catch Crappie in bad weather?

Is it that the fish shut down and don’t eat? Or, is it that it’s difficult for fishermen to present a bait that they can see and therefore react to?

I realize the challenge for me being able to get out on choppy water with rain, wind and cold temps in a possible fast current situation. I’m still trying to learn how to present the right bait during good weather. Let alone have any success in bad weather. But, assuming I could learn my part, would the fish still respond?


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My answer would be .... yes

BUT - your presentation speed "may" have to be slowed down & your bait size "may" have to be smaller - not always, but "normally" it would.

Fish gotta eat, even in frigid waters ... they just don't have to eat as often, and when they do eat it takes their slowed metabolism a lot longer to digest their food (so they're not as hungry as often).

Remember .... fish don't necessarily have to "see" a bait to know it's there. Water pressure vibrations coming off a moving bait can be "felt" thru their lateral lines, and they can "smell" the scent of your bait. Also good to know is that fish CAN "see" better & farther in cold water, than they can in very warm water.

For my :twocents ... anytime you fish in a current, you want to find the biggest current breaks available or eddy water areas (& don't forget to check out deep holes).

The main thing, is just go fishing. Personal experience is the best teacher. I fished in about the worse conditions possible today, below a dam with flood gates open and all the turbines running from the bank. I didn't get the 1st bite for almost 2hrs and then I found a perfect little current break and the fish were in there. Even then, it took the perfect cast, count down and retrieve to get a bite. Those are things you just have to figure out on your own unfortunately.

I down sized my baits to a 1/100 size jig and was able to get some bites then i just changed colors through out the day. i caught a limit but it took 6 plus hours to get them. I was lucky because through out the day i started in deep water 20-30 feet and ended up in 12' to finish the limit.

I appreciate the responses. This info is encouraging because for some weird reason, I enjoy being out in the inclement weather. Most people look at me funny when it’s a nasty day and I say it would be a great day to be on the water. It would be even greater if I could catch some fish, but I’m going to enjoy being out there regardless. I just might not be right in the head.


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I find crappie to be somewhat perplexing in the weather/mood category , sometimes a real bad weather thing makes em bite hard as heck .
but to be sure its all over the map . I have froze my hands in a driving wind and rain at 35 degrees and bought had my wrist broke and then done the same on another day without a peck .
strange fish to deal with for sure and the only way to ever know if they are biting is to go try it .
on a side note: right in the head is a relative thing depending on who's head your in ….:Rofl

That's right Ketchn, It's all in the head...Mine bent the bumper on a Studabaker when I was three y/o, (true fact) so I know my head ain't right...lol.

I think it depends on which end of the front you're on. I fish every chance I get. But I've had some of my best days in high winds pre front, and good rain in the summer. It's all barometer change. Hit a limit last weekend in 30 mph winds, and never saw another boat. Post front seems to always put them in a funk. I'll take rain over clear skies any day of the week.

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Fish slow during winter, after a front, fish deep or on the bottom! My 2ct:twocents

Thanks again for the input. It’s starting to look like I might actually get some time off work from now to the end of the year so hopefully I’ll get some good opportunities to get back out there. Not afraid of the weather, as long as there’s no lightning. And not afraid of the cold as long as there’s no ice on the ramp. If the Lord is willing, maybe I’ll finally be able to post some pics of fish on here... and more importantly, be able to have a fish fry.


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First thing I want to bring up is what you said. Bad weather and no one else around. PFD, no choice, no chances. You have to rely on yourself.

I lived north of you for ten years. Launched in 24 and 27*, so I ain’t to smart neither. They will eat somewhere every day, but it might be real finicky and might only feed for 30 minutes. I liked standing timber cuz they would just move up and down the trees in deep water. I’ve found them other places but it was all about the shad where i was. They were suspended and i used yellow braid that I marked with a magic marker to return to the same depth. Match the size of the shad, even if its bigger than you think will work, and hold it as close to motionless as you can. They’re lethargic and wont expend much energy to chase a bait. Good luck and i also agree, time on the water and an open mind is the best teacher.

Being retired I pretty much go fishing whenever I want. That being said, I do occasionally go fishing in inclement weather. I do that just because I figure I am as good a fisherman as any tournament fisherman and they fish tournaments in inclement weather so I sometimes feel the need to prove to myself that I can do that too. I have also found that without exception I always catch more fish on the water than I do on the couch. :) Also, I worked outside in a job that required me to be in the weather no matter what the weather was so the weather is not as big a deal for me.

You have received lots of good advice already so go for it and have fun. Be sure and dress for the weather. Makes all the difference between fun and frostbite :)

Point taken skeetbum. When by myself, I always wear PFD. Even though it’s uncomfortable. One of these days, I’ll get one of the auto inflation types.

I’m 52 and feel like I’m aging faster than the calendar suggests I should. So, a fall is definitely not out of the realm of possibility for me. Heck, I once fell out of a boat on dry land. But, that’s a story for another day.

I agree crappie wrangler... lots of good advice on here. I really appreciate all the input folks. If anyone is interested, I’ll post some updates as the opportunities arise in the next few weeks.


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I think one of my biggest struggles is realizing that before and and after a front they are not where I caught them last. Pressure changes with the fronts cause them to move up or go deeper.


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I’m interested. Post the updates