Many small lakes and ponds have been open for a couple of days around the cities. My buddy took a few quick casts the other day and nailed a 13″ on a trout spinner. I tried the very next day; no luck. I’m starting to think that the crappie was a fluke.
That brings me to my main question: where do crappies go after ice-out, and how do I catch them?
Buddy of mine nailed a 16 inch 2.02 pounder today on a Beetle Spin. The crappies have moved from the deeps to the warmer, dark bottom, shallow waters. Main basin was 43 degrees, 46 in the shallow dark bottom flats.
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Check where you caught them last in the fall.
Buddy of mine nailed a 16 inch 2.02 pounder today on a Beetle Spin.
Oh damn, that’s a legit slab.
Check where you caught them last in the fall.
I know this is true but what if you didn’t fish them in the fall? Except for one day or so I’ve only fished crappies on ice. However with my new living arrangements and free time spring crappies will be the major goal.
Will be following this thread, couple weeks and should have enough open water for the boat.
I’d start by looking at the 1st bays that became ice free. Those are normally the warmest water in the lake and the warmer water is the key. Shallow muddy bottom bays are normally the 1st place they start showing up. They will be in the bays or near them for weeks prior to actually spawning. Any channel’s are also a good place to start looking. They normally warm up quicker as well.
I’d start by looking at the 1st bays that became ice free. Those are normally the warmest water in the lake and the warmer water is the key. Shallow muddy bottom bays are normally the 1st place they start showing up. They will be in the bays or near them for weeks prior to actually spawning. Any channel’s are also a good place to start looking. They normally warm up quicker as well.
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On most lakes a fish I see a lot of fish show up really shallow shortly after ice out, long before spawning temps. They go where the food goes. Especially shallow dark water type lakes.
I fish a few lakes that are deeper and clear and generally those fish stage over emerging weed beds in 6-12fow until the water gets closer to 60°.
A good practice for finding them is to look between shallow bays and deep basin wintertime areas. They’re in one of those places or somewhere in between.
Those are normally the warmest water in the lake and the warmer water is the key.
North bays or the north side of lakes are generally warmer than others too because they receive more sunlight from the south.
A lot of this bay stuff is quite true for later in the day. At this time of year any breeze or night-time cooling can erase most of yesterday’s water temps that provided a decent bite so keep in mind what time you plan to fish. An afternoon or early evening will likely be best if you’re going back into those bays. If there is deeper water within a relatively short distance from those bays or in the center of the bays, check there in the early morning. Unless there’s been a radical cold front you’re probably going to locate the crappies early suspended at or near the deepest depth they were at while in the bays. Depending on the body of water I have found deeper water within twenty feet of where water in a bay holds afternoon fish, holding tons of fish while the bay draws a big zip.
I’m an early morning person and seldom look at bays until the sun is well up. I will however spent plenty of time just outside of the bays in deeper water and will catch plenty of crappies before boats and jet heads churn the water up, then I head to the shallower water that bays offer.
When I refer to deeper water it can be anywhere from five feet to twenty feet deeper than the water inside a bay that’s maybe four feet or less and popping out afternoon crappies.
Really appreciate the help guys!!! From ice fishing I know my closest lake and spots that would fit those patterns. Got a game plan, now for waiting for ice out.
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