With water temps dropping and winter time upon us where do the crappie go? Will the brush piles still be good spots to look or do the crappie go elsewhere? I've not fished a great deal in the winter so i was hoping some of the experts might share their knowledge on winter crappie fishing.

Crappie will go deeper in the colder water. Brush piles will still produce but they have to be the correct depth and as always their food source has to be there also. Try creek and river channels where structure exist such as standing timber, drop offs, and of course don't pass up bridge columns if your lake has them. Everyone has their favorite places and I'm sure others will pitch in to help you. Good luck and good fishin!

I am no expert , but some crappie will to deep , others will go up creeks and rivers.
On the main lake , they will school up and follow the shad .

MO

You can't forget about flats with structure! ! We used to catch them on a big flat with brush all winter long and the water was 8 feet deep or less. The key is bait (as has already been mentioned). The crappie don't care if the bait is in two feet of water or 40 feet of water...along as you find the bait.

Thanks for the help guys. Looks like i need to go on a scouting mission.

bush hog is spot on in his explanation to the question

The name of the game is finding them wherever they are. If you can do that you have no problem.

Don't forget about me Joe if you need company while you are getting skunked.

I think you are all right about the crappie and what they do. Winter fishing does not have anything to do with how it feels to you, but the water temp. In the lakes I fish the baitfish start moving in the 60's but for the most part don't go any where, just around to stay away from the pan fish. As the water drops in the 50's they do go deep but in 20 feet of water with a 10 foot creek that may be where they stay all winter if the water stays at 45 or so. At 42-43 degrees the thread fin shad starts dying off and the crappie has all they want to eat. Learn your lake and the baitfish it holes you will find that you don't need a tank of gas to fish all day. I like best the flats with cover with little wind but the creeks are best if you have much wind. I use 1/16, 1/24, 1/32, and 1/48 jigs on @2 hooks, and think we all know that don't work on open deep water. Good Fishing