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What's your strategy for Crappie in February? #12602648 01/30/18 09:49 PM
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Dan_n_Texas Offline OP
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January is almost over and February is around the corner. It's still cold outside here in the south but maybe we'll be getting some warmer temperatures soon.

What's your strategy for finding and catching crappie?

My brother and I fish a shallow water lake (several hundred acres of water with no depth greater than 6 feet, lots of cypress trees) and are looking forward to when the water temperature comes up. Right now several trips have yielded no bites.


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The answer is found in Jesus Christ who said "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10
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Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12602854 01/31/18 12:28 AM
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Hmmm, my strategies dont involves lakes that shallow...BUT, I think I would fish the deepest holes and/or the warmest water I could find on your lake...warm water is probably near some rocks or concrete that gets a lot of sun most of the day...man, if you have a Creek this has water warmer than the lake...that is were you would find me...fishing on the sunny bank...find where they are hiding and pitch little bitty baits...1/64, 1/48, or 1/32 with #6 or #8 sickle hooks...check out thermocline...they got little baits that will seine that lake once you find them...hope this info helps...

Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12603293 01/31/18 03:59 AM
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Mckinneycrappiecatcher Offline
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Yeah I dont fish lakes that shallow, but most everything here in north Texas will likely be winter pattern for at least 2 or three weeks and I doubt they start to stage until March.

Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12603521 01/31/18 01:35 PM
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Bassthumb: Phill's Guide Svc Offline
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You will either find me on vertical structure or back in the warmest creek I can find this month. The fish already have eggs in them and Ive caught them in 2 of water in the past week.


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Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12603595 01/31/18 02:30 PM
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Creeks, creeks and more creeks. Fish should start moving shallow towards the middle of the month in the creeks especially lakes with black crappie in them. I also have found February to be a tricky month as fish are in transition. Things get a lot better when March 1st comes along.

Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Bassthumb: Phill's Guide Svc] #12604527 02/01/18 01:22 AM
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Originally Posted By: Bassthumb
You will either find me on vertical structure or back in the warmest creek I can find this month. The fish already have eggs in them and Ive caught them in 2 of water in the past week.


Couple of weeks ago, a friend and I managed 35 good keepers, in 5 hours...all the females had eggs further in development than what I normally experience for mid January...surprised me considerably...oh yea, we were in a creek fishing 2-3 feet deep...any deeper and no bites...

Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12605378 02/01/18 05:22 PM
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Yesterday everything we caught was under bait off the face of the dam. The fish were in 16-20ft, relating closely to the bottom. Water temp was 49.1.



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Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12605403 02/01/18 05:41 PM
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If I can get mu boat running, I'll wait for a day when Guntersville is releasing water. Then I'll anchor underneath one of the bridges.


Originally Posted by OTFF
He is truly a sick individual.
Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12605459 02/01/18 06:18 PM
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Read about em....unless we get a warm, not windy day, then it's game on.

fish
` hooked

Maybe,.. cool

Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12605645 02/01/18 08:13 PM
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I'm staying deep until I just can't find them anymore. I feel this is the more consistent bite until they begin to spawn in mass.

I caught 20 in 2 hrs. Tuesday -35' to 40' deep -47 water temperature.

Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12605919 02/01/18 10:59 PM
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February is the most frustrating month for me. February certainly proves the old adage of "here today, gone tomorrow." Crappie are on the move so much in Feb, it's hard to get any type pattern on them. Most of us will rush the shallow bite too soon, like we do every year, cause we like catching them shallow. It's just plain fun.

I'm with Gamblinman, I'm going to look deep first, as that usually proves to be the most consistent. Once the migration starts in mass to staging/spawning areas, things get really difficult. What I've seen work most often in Feb is the night time bite in creek channels leading to spawning areas. Fish will be 15-20' deep or someplace else. I remember one spring, first week of March, I beat the shallow water to a froth for several mornings and nada. Some friends were night fishing not 400 yds from the same area and catching double limits by 11pm 3 nights that same week.


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Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12606023 02/02/18 12:05 AM
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I agree most will rush the shallow bite, it seems that every year, when we get the first little warm spell in February everyone is jumping the gun talking about the spawn, when in reality its probably another 8 weeks away. It really all just depends on the water temp.

Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12606094 02/02/18 12:49 AM
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If you wait till 8 weeks after February, you will have missed at least half of the spawn. Fish can and do move up in February when the water starts to warm, you just have to look around. This is especially true with black crappie. While April is the peak, it is not the only time to find them shallow.

Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: Dan_n_Texas] #12606095 02/02/18 12:49 AM
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My plan is to thaw some and fry them up. Ain't mad enough at them to fight the wind and cold the older I get.


Bobby Barnett





Re: What's your strategy for Crappie in February? [Re: KidKrappie] #12606121 02/02/18 01:01 AM
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Originally Posted By: fishin'aholic2
If you wait till 8 weeks after February, you will have missed at least half of the spawn. Fish can and do move up in February when the water starts to warm, you just have to look around. This is especially true with black crappie. While April is the peak, it is not the only time to find them shallow.
^^^agree^^^


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