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Winter fishing #12030425 01/10/17 12:10 AM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,410
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DavisGuideService Offline OP
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I've always fished for Crappie in the winter time in creeks, this year I told myself I was going to learn to fish deep/open water. And I've done pretty well When the water temp was in the upper 50's now that the temp has dropped another 10 degees it seems that the fish have gone pretty much dormant compared to a month ago. Im keying in on points, drop offs and deep structure/cover where there's bait near by and looking for something different in the bottom using sonar and Hoovering over it for a minute or so if no bite move on. I'm Still seeing the same pattern just a little bit deeper water and the fish I am catch are full of shad. I'm fishing with jigs only, two tied about 2ft apart. I'm wondering if the active fish are more suspended in the water colum .
Sorry about the rambling but It's kinda got me scratching my head on what IM doing wrong, any input would be appreciated.


Davis Guide Service
www.DavisGuide.com
817-983-8750
James Davis
Lake Whitney- Striper-white bass-Crappie
https://www.facebook.com/Davis-Guide-Service-159521764704170/
Mr.Crappie Pro Team
www.mrcrappie.com
Re: Winter fishing [Re: DavisGuideService] #12030490 01/10/17 12:46 AM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 190
jp24 Offline
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I hope someone weighs in here, man. Because having recently moved to the lake, I am in the same boat. Would love to go out next few days, with the warmer temps, and catch some slabs ... but not really sure where to start here on Cedar Creek. I can get busy searching online tips, I suppose, but hopefully one of the gurus will guide us both!

Re: Winter fishing [Re: DavisGuideService] #12030606 01/10/17 01:28 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
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jigfisher Offline
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Your fishing em/searching for them as I do except I never use but 1 jig. I always use the lightest I can and always plastic either tubes or straight tail. In my years fishing for em I usually get most off dead bottom when water is cold. And many days I do nothing as for action. Don't move it or slowly drag on bottom feeling for weight cause their not near as active so the bite is very lite.
When they're somewhat active they'll suck it in before you reach bottom.

Re: Winter fishing [Re: DavisGuideService] #12030663 01/10/17 01:52 AM
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Jacob Offline
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I am no expert, but when I look for deep water crappie, I first hit the deepest brush I can find. Usually 30-35ft.

If it's not producing, I go get on my graph in open water and look for elongated bait clouds NOT BALLS. If they are still in a ball, the crappie aren't in them feeding on them. The best thing you can see is a long cloud with dots underneath (obviously). The bottom structure at this point makes almost no difference. Usually you're fishing by the dam in some deep water, around 35-45 ft. Think about chasing schools of bass except the crappie don't come to the top of the water. Stay on your trolling motor and try your best to keep that bait cloud on your screen. I use 3/4oz bell sinkers below my baits so I can keep on the move without my lines going sideways and losing their depth.


When you're fishing, use at least two poles to try different depths, I usually see where the bottom of the bait cloud is, and try one right at that level and the other about 5 ft deeper.

Another thing to look for while graphing is your bottom. Look CAREFULLY at the bottom because the crappie can almost hide in the bottom line on your graph. Sometimes they will look like little commas on the bottom. I've come across schools hugging the bottom that would wait til my bell sinker hit the mud to attack the bait.


Re: Winter fishing [Re: DavisGuideService] #12030675 01/10/17 01:56 AM
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Jacob Offline
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I made this video a few years ago to show what I look for on my graph while actually trolling around.



Re: Winter fishing [Re: DavisGuideService] #12031429 01/10/17 02:05 PM
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DavisGuideService Offline OP
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Thanks jacob, great information I'll definitely be using it .

Last edited by Grenadaslabs; 01/11/17 05:47 AM.

Davis Guide Service
www.DavisGuide.com
817-983-8750
James Davis
Lake Whitney- Striper-white bass-Crappie
https://www.facebook.com/Davis-Guide-Service-159521764704170/
Mr.Crappie Pro Team
www.mrcrappie.com
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