Crappie Help....

[Bob_D]

I assume that folks can't help me with locations since I'm in VT. However, I'd like some general help on where to look for crappie while fishing on Northern Lake Champlain. I find them in the spring, but I'm not sure where to be looking in the winter. There are very few brush piles that I know of, bit we have weed beds, sand, mud and rock bottoms. I'm at a disadvantage since I did not have the coin to get a flasher this year, so I'll be flying blind.

What depth of water and structure should I be looking for? How far will fish travel to spawning areas? What baits? I assume that tipping with minnows is almost a must?

There are not a lot of them around, but enough that I should be able to target them.

[Wookiee]

weeds, brush, timber for structure start out shallower and then move to the deep holes as it gets colder. Minnows aren't a must they will take plastics, spikes, and waxies just as readily. I prefer plastics by custom jigs and spins and Little atom. Nuggies, wedgees and finesse plastics. Baits like 1/16 or 1/8 oz small jigging spoons, poppees, genz bugs, optic stealth jigs and almost all work. They seem to like glow red and glow with some other colors mixed in as well. Start out on the bottom and work your way up and it does get frustrating with out a flasher because of their suspending nature but what did people do before flashers anyway? If you know where the structure key on those areas also.

[metrojoe]

Hey Bob,

I live right by a lake that just gives me fits in the winter time. I have about 3 or 4 go to spots for spring time crappies and I do very well, but the hard water is a different story. Last year was going to be my year to find out where those wiley crappies hang out in the winter time, but of course we had such horrible ice last year and the county I live in closed all lakes to vehicle traffic, I never got the chance It was the right thing to do, but it really makes it tough to cover a big lake when you’re on foot.

I'm not familiar with your lake of course, but during early ice I'd concentrate on the weed edges adjacent to deep water. Once the ice is drivable the crappies seem to suspend more over deep water. If you see a group of fishermen/fish houses over some deep water, it’s a safe bet they are after them crappies. Locating the depth they are suspended at without a flasher makes it more challenging, but not impossible. There does seem to be some correlation between the depths they suspend at and how deep the water is, but I don't think there are any hard and fast rules. Just start a couple feet off the bottom and keep adjusting your depth up until you get a strike.

I forgot to add that I always have one line tipped with a minnow, but I actually have better luck with spikes and small jig.

[Coach1310]

Everything previously stated is a good start. Don't forget to try and track down a couple of buddies to help you with the search. If you can get a bunch of lines in the water and a bunch of guys drilling holes it may help your process a little. Also look into renting a flasher. Some resorts in MN will rent you a flasher for $20-30 per day. I am thinking their may be resorts in your area that will do the same. It will eliminate fishing holes without the right depth/fish. Good luck!

[nate18]

Bob D

All above is great info. On my favorite Crappie lake I fish in 16-20' of water and as dusk approaches I fish about 6"-1'off the bottom. If you hook up, and the bite stops, try bringing your presentations up a foot. I find that as the night progresses the bait fish ride higher and higher in the water column and the crappie follow. It is not uncommon, for me, to catch my first crappie on the bottom and my last one 4-7 feet below the ice. I hope this helps and good luck! I thought I would also note that I catch crappie in a completely different spot than in the spring!

[Sand Bay Sultan]

try the same general area as you caught them in thesummer or fall try a foot or to off bottom first but use an extra small jig and extra small minnow/waxworm/bait(as winter crappie aren't usually feeding as actively during the low water temperature of the winter month. Also be as quiet as possible on the ice when drilling, and do as little moving around or walking while fishing they are easily spooked. if no luck still experiment with the 5 to 10 foot of bottom. if still no luck relocate but remember the spooking risk. light jigging or no jigging at all can also be tried. put in some time and you get'um

[Bob_D]

Thanks for the advise guys. There are not a lot of guys that target them and those who do with any success are pretty tight lipped. I'll give a few spots a try this year.

What do you guys consider deep water? 20,30,40,50?????? It's not hard to find a spot with 100++ feet of water on Champlain.

[Sand Bay Sultan]

crappies like the 20-30 foot range ocassionally shallower rarely deeper