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.
Also, once you find the pattern on a given body of water, Winter Crappie will normally hold that same pattern for many days, sometimes weeks. Of course, a storm front may shut them down for a day or so, but generally they'll come right back, hungry as ever!
In most lakes at this time of year, Crappie can almost always be found hanging around deep brush on submerged river or creek channels. Vertical bluff-type structure, and manmade brushpiles in deep water are also excellent areas to find Winter Crappie.
It's true that Winter Crappie spend most of their time hanging around brush located along deep drop offs. But not always. Several days of warmer than normal weather can cause Crappie to move up to within a foot or so of the surface. It may also cause them to leave their deep water hangouts and move across shallow flats.
Make sure you use the right tackle for Winter Crappie fishing.
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.
My other Winter Crappie fishing gear includes tiny ice fishings jigs or spoons, jigs in the 1/32 or 1/64 ounce range and 2 to 4 pound test line. I know what you're thinking. But Winter Crappie do not put up much of a fight and you should be able to horse any Crappie from a brush pile with this setup. Sure, you'll lose a few, but you'll catch more by downsizing than you will by using heavy rods, lines and baits.
Cold Crappie won't chase down bait during the Winter. This means you must put your offering in front of their nose and leave it there. In fact, many times I've had more success by not imparting any motion with my jig. Make it easy for the Crappie to eat your bait. This isn't rocket science, so don't get all technical with your presentation. Just hold it in front of them, they'll bite it!
For more information on how to catch Crappie anytime of the year, please visit the links below.