how late do you stay out for crappies?

[bgreen82]

hey guys, i am looking to get out about 2:00 friday for some crappies. how late past dark do most of you guys stay out with success?

[Craigums]

when I stop marking fish on my flasher is usually when I pack it in.

Seems to me like the action will usually peak and then taper off for the next 1.5 hours after

[Bulldoggr]

I was out until 1 am the other night when it was 41 degrees and raining. Caught alot of fish and kept a limit. was getting tired so I told my self as soon as i get another nice size crappie to keep for my limit I was going home.

So thats what i did. there were a couple more guys still out wen i left . One in a perm. shack and another guy in a portable

[anyfishwilldo]

Lately, Ive had my best luck up until 8ish. After that, it really has seemed to taper off.

[mr_jman]

same for me too, 8pm - 8:30pm I usually will pack it in. Lately though, after about 6:30pm it seems to shut down.

[tisosy11]

I'd stay as long as you can keep marking or even catching fish.

I usually set a time frame if its slow and if i don't catch a fish in the time frame, we'll head home.

[Sandmannd]

As long as I'm marking them or the wife calls and chews my butt to get home.

[Flaco651]

It depends on the lake for me.

[slipperybob]

Not all fish peak feed at the same time.

[Deitz Dittrich]

When I am cold, or hungry! More often that not, when the bite start to die and I either have to make the decision to move to a new spot or go home.. it also depends on when I got to the lake as well.. I tend to do quite well during the day for crappies. But I would guess, if you did some searching, you could find active crappies all night long.

[Nate McVey]

I try to stick to 45 mins-an hour past sundown, so as the days get longer, so does my time on the ice.

[wlmrs]

usually when I go out it's a 4-6 hour run

[IceHawk]

The last few evenings I have had my best luck from 6-9 pm. I will have to say I usally let the numbers and mood of the fish dictate how long I stay out.

[BpAki987]

 Originally Posted By: IceHawk

The last few evenings I have had my best luck from 6-9 pm. I will have to say I usally let the numbers and mood of the fish dictate how long I stay out.

thats about right for me. If they continue to bite and bite eagerly I usually stay till 11 or midnite.

[Dog_Fish]

For me it depends on the lake as well. Some lakes are stone cold at dusk some go strong until Midnight. If its not steady after I run out of bear I'm packing up!

[Big Jeff]

I was out tonight and they where biting here and there untill we left at 1am I feel like the bite might not be strong all the way through but they eem to pick up for w while then slow then pick up as the night goes on.

[TCon17]

Depends on the lake for me as well. At my cabin i dont go looking for crappies until an hour or less before dark and stay until i get bored really. Couple weeks ago i was out until 3 am. Next night, i was in by 9. Different everyday.

[Hammer Handle]

Until I get my limit...or they quit biting....

[slim1]

what ever time I can get out of the house and out to the lake. Much more peaceful from 9pm to midnite

[bigbucks]

Ditto to that. The limit's only 10 & I fish by myself a lot. If they're biting so slow I wouldn't have my limit of crappies in a couple of hours I've probably gone home or switched spots. Walleyes are a little different. I would say I have very few ice fishing outings that last 3 hours anyway except for a weekend or two when we go to LOW or Red.

[SnipeZilla]

I like rockin' the late late night bite. Pack up time is around 2am. We usually catch a decent lull for about 30-45min.....but then they start hittin again. Well worth it if you dont have anything to do the next day, and you basically have the lake to yourself.

[icehousebob]

I used to put a house on Tonka and the locals told me I was wasting my time to fish any time past an hour after dark. Since I work a rotating shift, I decided to experiment. The best fishing I found was when I got to the house an hour before first light. I didn't want to hurt the local anglers feelings so I never told them.