Backwater panfish advice needed

Thursday I’m going to a backwater that has pannies-I guess at early ice they go way back into the backwater, those areas eventually loose oxygen and they move out to the channel-any idea where we are on this progression? Any other tips would be great too.
Thanks

River dudes are mum! I respect that. Just wondering about trends out there not spots.
Thanks

Not a river rat, but like lakes, every backwater is different. Some remain oxygen rich all winter, but not all.

Generally speaking, backwaters aren’t super big areas so shouldn’t take long to find out Thursday…

Best advice, stay as quiet as possible. The snow cover will help, but even shadows above your hole can spoke fish. I was having this happen before the snow in 4′ sight fishing crappies.

Great point Ben, thanks.

Many areas should still have green weeds,this is where a camera comes in.Heavy snow cover is no bueno.Drill a hole,and if the water looks overly cloudy that means that the weeds are dying.Head towards deeper,cleaner water.When you drill a hole and baby bluegills come up,that means winter-kill is setting in.Also pays to move outside of crowds if possible.

And if you are exploring less traveled areas,a spud bar is your friend.Some backwater areas have”bubbler holes”,I guess that is from methane coming up from the bottom.I almost went into one of those a few years after a heavy snow.I have drilled holes in that general area,and it sometimes looks like a percolator.Lots of gas bubbles rising.Eats away at the ice when there is a lot of snow on top.

Great tips 714-thanks-think I’ll bring the camera

So here is what I do when looking for backwater panfish and pike…

I look to see where there could be fresh oxygen coming in to the area from current off of the main channel… ***The current areas have less ice of coarse***

Then look to see what looks like slack water with weed growth and some marginal depth.. I have been in 2 fow below the ice at times….

I generally stay away for land locked pot holes as they just do not seem to have depth and weed growth due to super soft bottom that no seeds would grow..

Red lines show current flow coming in from the main channel and the X’s are where I look…in this case i have fished…

good luck out there and be safe !!!

The Tug Is The Drug !!

Attachments:

1. 

   backwater-locations.jpg