Finding crappies in shallow water lake???

[RangeFishing]

I was recently checking out some DNR data on a lake just a couple miles down the road from me and while the data is old (from the 1980s) the net rate of crappies back then was exceptionally high. Hardly anyone fishes this lake because it is so shallow and they think nothing big is going to come out of it. Tonight, me and my girlfriend decided to give it a try and in only a matter of an hour and a half fishing my thoughts about the possibility of decent size crappies was confirmed. It was slow though and I didnt even know where to begin. The biggest caught was 10 inches which is good eating size in my personal opinion.

Id like some ideas on where to begin looking to get on top of more then just a couple of them though. The lake is relatively small, 128 acres and the deepest spot is only 16 ft. It is a bowl shaped lake, there are no sharp drop offs and just gradually falls off to the middle where the deep spot is, which is where we decided to set up tonight. Ive always held to the idea that fish like the deeper holes during the winter, but a lake this small surely they have to be in other areas.

As we were out there i talked to a person who was spearing and was told the lake is spring fed lake, the water is amazingly clear he has caught 12 inchers on a regular basis during the summer but has never ice fished for them.

I need some ideas on finding crappies in a lake like this. Where would you start looking?

[KrabbyPatties]

I've fished that very lake quite a few times. Private message on its way.

[Jim Uran]

Since it's a smaller lake, drill a lot of holes and keep moving until you find them. In a lake like that, they could be anywhere!

I've had a similar success story lately. The lake topped out at right around 30 feet, but I found mine in 15, just roaming around.

Nice job on getting out there and finding a bite on your own!

[RangeFishing]

Nice job on getting out there and finding a bite on your own!

Well, i figured it common sense that in lake with only one "hole" there were bound to be fish biting in that general area. We did get lucky but Id really like to find where they school during winter. I have a feeling there are some beautiful fish hiding somewhere in there

[TruthWalleyes]

Based on the map, and only the map, i'd start between the emergent vegitation and drill to the deep water. Likely they'll be 8' or deeper.

The next thing i'd do, is get my boat out there in the summer to look for actual structure. These DNR maps are so vague. DOn't believe that everything is as gradual as the dnr map.

[monstermoose78]

if it is so clear bring a underwater camera and look for trees that have fallen in.

[catchnothing]

I fish shallow lake all the time for crappies. Seems like shallow lake crappies roam more than school up like deeper lakes.... Just my thought.

[Zelmsdawg]

Sent you a PM, hope it helps