Pool 8 AM Crappies Are Hot

I started the morning leaving Sparta at 4:40am heading for Pool 8, in the La Crosse area.The temp was -1 degree with no wind, and the stars were out. I was set up and fishing by 5:45am with a good bite already on! The action was good up to 8:30am and coming to a stop by 9:00am. It was worth getting to the ice early am while the crappies were feeding shallow before slipping back into deeper water.

I started off dropping in a Purple/White Rock-A-Roo, the LX-5 loaded up with fish and I was slammed immediately. At first there was no finesse needed for a hook up. I just needed to drop the bait to within 2’ of the bottom, give it a jig, and I would be hit. This lasted a good hour before they became a little touchy. At this point I dropped a Purple Purest at them, with some coaxing I could get a hit. I would drop the bait looking for a fish to come from the bottom. If I did mark a fish, I dropped the Purest just above his face then lifted, if the fish followed, it was committed to bite.

From 8:30 till 9:00 I was marking fewer fish. They were leaving this shallow flat and heading to deeper water nearby. With 24 crappies, the average being 8 – 10.5 inches and another 24 caught and released there was no reason for me to chase them. With a fast and consistent bite, it was one of my better mornings for February.