help !! they've vanished

[gman2002]

my dilema, i fish on about a 1700 acre flowage with a river channel running the lenth of it. the water is rust and cameras are useless. at early ice i really got into the big panfish, fishing the channel which is 13- 15 ft deep and has underwater brush and trees spread out here and there. it's also only about 15 ft wide and the rest of the flowage is only 10 - 12 ft deep. one huge flat. there are some weed beds but are only in 6-7 ft of water,i've tried these and nothing. theres some points that drop off real sharp ,and i've tried the edges of those also.the last 3 weeks i've probably drilled 500 holes and lately all i can catch are 6 inch fish. does anyone think they know where the big panfish are hideing out? or why they've left the deepest water? there is some current but not much. i have tried up on the flat next to the channel everywhere , but no luck.i've tried to downsize and i've tried to upsize. any ideas ?

[FishinChad]

Move shallower? Away from the channel? 5fow? I dunno just some things to try! Maybe they are still in the channel but tight lipped? Different part of the channel?

[fisherdog19]

Could be possible they left for deeper water and more oxygen. Otherwise I would go to the edge of the channel and fish the top of the shelf, could be they're cruising it.