All fish feed year-round, but some end up being harder to locate during the winter. Crappie are less complicated to locate than other species when the water turns cold due to the fact that the fish like to congregate around cover such as brush stacks or standing timber.
Tristan Yaptengco with a collection of SLABS Making a milk run of brush heaps is among the most productive means to catch winter crappie on most lakes.
On lowland tanks, you can locate crappie bunched up in brush piles or standing lumber at the mouths of large creeks where the fish will be holding at depths of 10 to 20 feet.
Highland Reservoirs
Highland storage tank crappie will gather in standing hardwood along steep bluffs or manmade brush stacks beside any type of deep water. Throughout very early wintertime you can capture the largest crappie on highland reservoirs about 20 feet deep but when a cold front moves in or the water temperature level remains to drop the larger fish can be located in brush heaps concerning 40 feet deep under of a creek channel.
Lowland Impoundments
When angling crappie beds on lowland impoundments position your watercraft over the brush and vertically offer a 1/16-or 1/8-ounce tube jig and also vary the deepness up until you obtain a strike. Relocate the jig somewhat or not whatsoever in the cold water because the fish will be moving slowly then.
Winter Crappie Fishing On Sunny Days
Weather is a significant factor when identifying just how to fish wood cover for crappie on the clear water highland reservoirs. On a bright day or after a cold spell travels through, crappie get in the middle of a brush stack and you need to work your jig throughout the thickest component of the brush next to a step drop-off.
Winter Months Crappie Fishing Overcast Days
On overcast days, look for crappie putting on hold in the limbs of standing lumber along bluffs or the tops of brush piles that reach near the surface when the lake level is drawn down. These fish suspend anywhere from 2 to 10 feet deep over the brush or in the arm or legs of the standing lumber.
You will intend to make use of a slower dropping appeal for these fish so change to a 1/32-ounce jig with a plastic curly-tail grub as well as cast it past the cover. Let the jig autumn while gradually counting to 5 or 10. Start swimming the jig back to the watercraft by gradually raising and also dropping your rod.
Fish The Docks For Winter Slabs
Crappie also hang around anchors all year, so swimming a jig around boathouses is another productive winter season technique. Swim your jig at various depths up until you obtain a strike.
