Where Do Crappie Go In Muddy Water???

This Winter, since New Years has, been pretty rainy in Upstate SC. Lake Hartwell is a clear water mountain lake on the SC/Ga border. From our house in SC, we can look across the neighbor’s yard and see the Georgia State Park. For the last month or so, with all the rain, our clear water lake has become very muddy. And the crappie have disappeared. We have fished brush piles, docks and break lines that usually produce fish, but not now. We haven’t gotten so much as a bite in several weeks. My buddy has lived here a lot longer than me and knows the lake better than me. We are both retired and can fish several days a week, but he fishes more than me. But the crappie have disappeared. He has a Garman fish finder in the boat, but we don’t have the latest live scan technology. But we do have side scan as well as down scan, mapping etc. The fish have either left our whole area, or else, they must be widely scattered. So, what do you guys think our strategy should be? What can we do to catch some fish? We both fish jigs and we usually fish straight down while moving slowly. We know of one dock that almost always gives us some catches. There are flooded creeks where we know the location of several brush piles. We have put in Christmas trees for several years, and he has been doing so for 15 years. But where are the crappie and what can we do to catch some? Any suggestions, tips, tricks, etc? Thanks.

I also like using jigs, but when the water gets that muddy, I turn to live bait. Fish the same spots. Good luck - the water will clear soon. With it rising 7 feet in two weeks, we were bond to get some mud.

If Water is up ! fish is up and scattered!
when you get these short warming trends I’d start in shallower coves close to areas where you have caught them before !:twocents

If Water is up ! fish is up and scattered!
when you get these short warming trends I’d start in shallower coves close to areas where you have caught them before !:twocents

In fairness, I fish a lake fairly near Hartwell that's typically a good bit clearer than Hartwell is and it's been fishing tough for me this winter too, even in the absence of muddy water. The fish aren't in places where they were last year at this time and though I've found plenty of fish on my electronics, they've been buggers to catch more days than not. I'm hopeful that this trend is going to turn around soon, because I haven't caught as many fish as last year I don't believe and I know I haven't caught anywhere near as many large fish as I did last year around this time.

When water is muddy they go tight to cover. When water is high they go tight to cover.

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I lean towards the tight to cover theory. Not saying that’s always the scenario tho. The other part I believe could be important is not to forget that the lake bottom is also cover in a way for fish to relate to. Good luck and let us know how you do…..

In NC, the fish do not go tight to cover during the winter even if the water is muddy. The pattern the last few weeks has been 12-20 FOW and 2-8’ down on sunny days.


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Some use the muddy water itself for cover and suspend 2-8' deep, and others hug the bottom so close you don't see them. Most are scattered and not on the usual cover. Try very backs of creeks and work out. Fish slower than usual if long lining or tight lining. Tight bait balls are key for finding them.

Around here when the water is high and dirty a good part of the fish head for the shallows, they will be rooting around for bugs and worms. The dirty water gives them cover in shallow and the sun warms that dirty water faster. When this occurs here I will be fishing 6 inches to 2 feet of water for Walleyes every species will be up shallow. I will look for bay areas with some type of stop a steeper bank etc. if there is no stop those fish can be miles off of the basin on huge flats the fish will be there but so spread out you will only find them by chance.

Each area is different but crappie sometimes go to bottom in cold muddy water. Temps mid 40's here and dropping your jig, with a live minnow works, to the bottom and reel up slowly to just get bait off bottom is working. Some have mud on their bellies.

My pal used to say if you are fishing slow then you need to slow down LOL

Right now in my area of the world the fish are scattered and following the bait towards the backs of the creeks. Water temps are @ 52* and the water is muddy. As long as you can see 6" down in the muddy water it wont kill the bite. Matter of fact....I'd rather fish muddy water than clear water anytime as long as it aint too muddy when you actually see the mud swirling in the water. I long line troll pulling jigs.

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Originally Posted by gabowman

Right now in my area of the world the fish are scattered and following the bait towards the backs of the creeks. Water temps are @ 52* and the water is muddy. As long as you can see 6" down in the muddy water it wont kill the bite. Matter of fact....I'd rather fish muddy water than clear water anytime as long as it aint too muddy when you actually see the mud swirling in the water. I long line troll pulling jigs.

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I'd love to go with you sometime to observe the trolling method...I have never done that. We just bought a house on Sinclair so I will be available most anytime now.

Livescope has shown us in high muddy water check open water for suspended Crappie .