How to fish mid winter bite?

What is the best thing to do in the middle of the winter for crappie and sunnies? I Mark a bunch but never catch a lot even though they are down there.

What works for me later in the season is to use the smaller jig with wax worm. Then lower the jig slowly in the water column as though the waxie was slowly sinking to the bottom, stop and hold, then drop further… The fish like that falling motion, but being cold blooded, won’t be able to move quickly to take the waxie, so a little patience and slowing down the jigging motion is essential.

Use 2# line so that your line has no memory. You won’t see the bite with stiff 6# mono with coil memory like a slinky toy, so go out and get some fresh line. As you are lowering the waxie, be watching the line for the slightest indications that it has gone slack as the fish may come up from below with mouth open. They have little energy to suck in the food. When the line goes slack, then lightly set the hook… raise the line a couple of inches to set… if you don’t feel it, then continue to slowly drop…