Where do "they" go???

[Huntin&Fishin]

So on a few lakes I fish that are relitivly small I've seached high and low for crappies, shallow deep, everything in between, and can never mark anything during the day. As soon as sunset comes around my flasher screen comes alive. So where do the fish come from???? remember it's smaller lakes and with time (weeks/ months) i've pretty much searched the entire lake. Just curious why I only mark/find the fish at dusk. Any thoughts?

[aquafang]

If there is any structure on the lake they could be holding tight there. Or I've heard that sometimes they will actually be very close to the surface and you may not mark them unless you are literally right on top of them. Could be on a steep drop off where your flasher may not see the bottom as well too?? Just a few suggestions. I'm just an avid fisherman. Not a professional. so what do I know..

[bottom-bouncer]

crappies are a party fish. during the day they are sleeping it off.

[catchnothing]

The fish can also be in the weeds. Try jigging even if your not marking any fish to see if they are in there. Thats what i do when im fishing shallow for perch and gills.

[hamms-scooter]

May be just below the ice... 1 or 2 ft? They do this in shallow water otherwise if there are weeds that is the jackpot. Right in the standing weeds where there are some pockets for them to cruise.

[muskE]

If they are just below the ice, drill about 50 holes in a tight circle to trap them and then take out the 15" auger in the middle to make instant crappie patties!

[Wimbie]

They are in "School".

[mallardnwalleye]

IN THE WEEDS!!!

[mike27891]

I have seen them come through, on the camera hugging the bottom.

I never saw them on the flasher.

They might just be on the bottom sleeping.

[tunrevir]

I have fished some lakes like this in the past and my answer is that they are negative untill the light penetration causes the zooplankton to begin to rise from the bottom. These fish may be in the weeds or they may be hugging the bottom but the reason they begin to get active is in response to the forage available. Often the zoo plankton will begin to rise from the bottom near dark causing the fish to become active and start feeding and as the night goes on. you may well see the fish begin to move higher and suspend further off the bottom. I think that one of the reasons that you see fish suspended over many depths in deeper water is that there is forage at many different levels in that depth of water as they rise while the window tends to be shortened in shallower water.

Tunrevir~

[Stick in Mud]

Great question. I've wondered the same thing.