If you haven't tried Winter Crappie fishing, you're missing out on one of the most productive and reliable times to catch this tasty panfish. Finding Crappie during the Winter months is the hard part. But with a fish finder, a little knowledge and some time on your favorite body of water, you can be catching Crappie when other anglers are at home in front of the fireplace.
Once you have discovered the Crappie pattern for your local body of water, you can pretty much count on finding Crappie in the same areas regardless of where you are on the water. For example, if you find them suspended at 15 feet over 50 feet of water on a submerged river channel with brush, you'll likely find then at other areas of the lake suspended at 15 feet of water over deep brush.
Start your search for Winter Crappie along deep channels that have a lot of brush. Don't be surprised if you find the deep brush but the Crappie are suspended near the surface. This happens quite a bit during the Winter, especially on those warmer than normal days. Also be on the look out for man-made brush piles in deep water. These are Crappie magnets. You might even want to consider sinking a few yourself!
A good lake or river map showing the bottom details is a must for Winter Crappie fishing. Search for those brushy areas along submerged breaks. Although Crappie normally hold in deep water during the Winter, there are times you can find them shallow. This will usually occur after a few days of warm weather. Crappie are likely to be only a few feet deep over brush or you may find them on the flats relating to structure.
Use the right tackle for Crappie fishing in the Wintertime.
Winter Crappie fishing requires you to downsize your tackle. The same tackle you used back in the Summer and Spring will not be as effective in Winter. Light and Ultralight rods in the 6 to 7 foot range, small minnows or 1/32 ounce jigs and four pound test line are the norm. Crappie become sluggish and finicky in the Winter, and they won't chase bait. In fact, they want the bait right in front of their mouth during most of the Winter.
I like to use a light graphite spinning rod, four pound test line and small tube jigs or minnows to locate deep water Crappie holding in brush. My set up includes a 3/8ths weight tied to the bottom of my line with two drops space about 12 to 18 inches apart above the weight. This way, I'm able to "feel" my way around those deep brush piles.
When looking for Winter Crappie, my other terminal tackle includes small jigs, spinners and minnows. I use 2 to 4 pound test line. If using minnows, I'll use a #6 Tru Turn gold aberdeen hooks. Jigs or ice fishing spoons should be in the 1/32 and 1/64 ounce area. Crappie don't like large baits during the Winter, I'm not sure why but I've always caught more with small baits than with big baits and heavy line.
Makes sure you slow down your presentation. Winter Crappie do not move fast and will not chase your bait like they do in the Summer and Spring. Many times I've held my rod still to entice Crappie in a deep brushpile to bite.
For more information on how to catch Crappie anytime of the year, please visit the links below.
Once you have discovered the Crappie pattern for your local body of water, you can pretty much count on finding Crappie in the same areas regardless of where you are on the water. For example, if you find them suspended at 15 feet over 50 feet of water on a submerged river channel with brush, you'll likely find then at other areas of the lake suspended at 15 feet of water over deep brush.
Start your search for Winter Crappie along deep channels that have a lot of brush. Don't be surprised if you find the deep brush but the Crappie are suspended near the surface. This happens quite a bit during the Winter, especially on those warmer than normal days. Also be on the look out for man-made brush piles in deep water. These are Crappie magnets. You might even want to consider sinking a few yourself!
A good lake or river map showing the bottom details is a must for Winter Crappie fishing. Search for those brushy areas along submerged breaks. Although Crappie normally hold in deep water during the Winter, there are times you can find them shallow. This will usually occur after a few days of warm weather. Crappie are likely to be only a few feet deep over brush or you may find them on the flats relating to structure.
Use the right tackle for Crappie fishing in the Wintertime.
Winter Crappie fishing requires you to downsize your tackle. The same tackle you used back in the Summer and Spring will not be as effective in Winter. Light and Ultralight rods in the 6 to 7 foot range, small minnows or 1/32 ounce jigs and four pound test line are the norm. Crappie become sluggish and finicky in the Winter, and they won't chase bait. In fact, they want the bait right in front of their mouth during most of the Winter.
I like to use a light graphite spinning rod, four pound test line and small tube jigs or minnows to locate deep water Crappie holding in brush. My set up includes a 3/8ths weight tied to the bottom of my line with two drops space about 12 to 18 inches apart above the weight. This way, I'm able to "feel" my way around those deep brush piles.
When looking for Winter Crappie, my other terminal tackle includes small jigs, spinners and minnows. I use 2 to 4 pound test line. If using minnows, I'll use a #6 Tru Turn gold aberdeen hooks. Jigs or ice fishing spoons should be in the 1/32 and 1/64 ounce area. Crappie don't like large baits during the Winter, I'm not sure why but I've always caught more with small baits than with big baits and heavy line.
Makes sure you slow down your presentation. Winter Crappie do not move fast and will not chase your bait like they do in the Summer and Spring. Many times I've held my rod still to entice Crappie in a deep brushpile to bite.
For more information on how to catch Crappie anytime of the year, please visit the links below.
About the Author:
Crappie fishing can be great fun during the Winter. Follow these hyperlinks for more Crappie fishing tips and informative articles and straight-talk on Crappie fishing.
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