crappies

[skyhawk]

New to this ice fishing gig. If I'm looking for crappies, where do I start at this time of year? Shallow, deep, etc. Any sugesstions would be appreciated. Thanks much.

[crappiegetter]

Good place to find them is around weeds if you can find them. Another way is to make a few holes and mark fish with a flasher.

[south_metro_fish]

I have already found them in 30' of water in midwinter grounds. Ask a local bait shop where people are catching them or where people usually end up catching them and look for them they school up pretty good after dark.

[harvey lee]

This past week I caught crappie on different lakes from 32fow to 11'5fow. I also caught some nice crappie as shallow as 8fow. I fished 5 different lakes within 3 days and every lake the crappie were at different depths.

I would say the depth depends on the lake.

[slurpie]

The shallow ones are usually more aggressive. The shallow fish see alot less pressure. But if fishing a bowl shaped lake set up in the deep close to the sharpest break you know of on the lake. I think most of the lakes in Mankato area would fit the description. Good luck.

[mntim]

Every lake is going to be different. Starting on the weed lines is your best bet. If you have a flasher, drill a bunch of holes every 50 ft until you start marking fish. Of course at this time of year, most lakes in the metro have small cities set up on each lake, a pretty good indicator of where to start.

[south_metro_fish]

Just as mntim said every lake is different. I did some reading well i was waiting for the ice this year and multiple sources were saying the same thing. You could have 2 lakes less then a mile apart and find fish in 30' of water at 6 PM and go to the other lake in a similar location same time and find nothing. But if you go a little shallower or deeper and there could be a whole school. Like I said if you can find a bait shop close to the lake ask them if they know where people are catching them and you might find a location similar to it if that location is a zoo.

[harvey lee]

There are a few lakes I fish crappie for that have a flat bowl type mud shallow area that I fish alot.

I am guessing it's good due to bugs and zoo plankton coming out of the mud for them to feed on.