To locate winter Crappie, think deep

By Bobby Peoples

Winter officially began this week and the colder temperatures have already arrived. The colder temperatures have also set in motion those changes that move us from fall angling to winter angling. The water temperature has now dropped into the mid to the low 50s and the lake water will not warm much if any above the present temperatures until spring. Likely the water temperature will continue receding into the upper 40s over the course of this winter.

Winter angling will normally consist of fishing weather fronts and preferably fishing in front of the winter high-pressure fronts that normally drive air temperatures low and barometer readings high. That combination generally adversely impacts the fishing by shutting down the bite. The better time to fish in winter is ahead of weather fronts or after a period of relatively warm stable weather.

Angling on area lakes has been seriously impacted by the record rainfalls that have occurred in the area since October. The heavy rains have left area lakes like Sinclair and Oconee very muddy and trashy. However the fish will bite even in the muddy water and that is especially true of the crappie.

Having said that, then the question becomes where to find the crappie and what lures are best to catch them? The crappie have already begun to move to deeper water where they will spend the winter. Unlike largemouth bass that will venture into relatively shallow water in winter, the crappie becomes for the most part a creature of deeper water. Crappie will move deeper and deeper as winter progresses and as the water temperature drops.

During the winter when a warm spell occurs, the crappie might venture into shallower water around deep docks or up on top of points or ledges that have brush or stumps. But for most of the winter, they will be found in deeper water until about mid to late February when a change occurs with longer days and slightly warmer air temperatures and the crappie may be somewhat shallower.

During the winter, the crappie will usually be located close to some type of underwater structure. This might be rocks, bridge pilings, rip-rap, man-made brushpiles, underwater trees, creek channels or deepwater stumps. The best locations to find crappie during the winter are locations where the crappie can move vertically up and down the underwater structure several feet. The crappie will move up and down the structure depending on temperature, water conditions and the weather.

The standard crappie jig is a good wintertime lure for crappie, just as it is during the spring. Many anglers will tip their jigs with a minnow during the winter months and have great success doing that. Small silver and gold spoons like a Hopkins or The Little Cleo have been my choice during the winter since they seem to catch bigger fish.

I often catch large crappie when using a jigging spoon for largemouth bass. The benefit of the spoon is your ability to drop the spoon right into a brushpile where the crappie will hang out. For working down rip-rap rocks, which are a winter hotspot, I prefer a standard crappie jig that can be bounced down the rocks.

Most wintertime crappie anglers will troll almost exclusively. Trolling will remain a good technique at times during the coldest weather but locating the crappie that will be constantly moving will take patience. Remember the crappie will move deeper and be near or on the bottom so adjust your trolling accordingly.

The number one adjustment that most anglers fail to make in winter is the speed of their lure presentation. All fish are affected by cold water that slows their metabolism. Regardless of what lure you use during the winter, you most S-L-O-W down the speed with which you move the lure. The crappie will bite but they will not chase a lure aggressively.

Also the crappie bite during cold weather can be almost undetectable. Using the lightest line possible and super sensitive rods will help detect the crappie’s light bite. So for some good winter crappie fishing bundle up, use some of the lures I have mentioned and study your depth finder very closely.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas and I wish you a Happy New Year. Good fishing and see you next week.