I can't think of a better place to ask for advice on winter strategy for crappie than the great folks on TFF. I fish Sandlin, Cypress Springs, and occasionally Pines. I recently fished CS and Sandlin, fishing brush piles in all depths of water, bridges, and docks with little success. What are some good strategies for this time of year with the water temperature in the low 50s? What should I be looking for on my HB - SI? I continue to read about creek fishing, points by the dam on Fork, above the 259 bridge on Pines, Pines by the dam. I'm more than a little confused???

Gosh...right now, fall strategies are still working, as hot as it is.

I'm with you, though. I'd like to know a bit more about lake fishing winters down here. I know about hitting the creeks, but sometimes ya need to hit the lake.

I would guess troll the dam in 25-35 ft of water until you find em stacked up. then see if anyones hungry with jigs.

Or try to find any cement pilings, walls or breaks. Fish the ones that are marked. Those most likely have brush.

The winter crappie fishing is finding the baitfish. Deep main lake points, river channels, contour breaks, all hold baitfish and the crappie follow... Same thing in the creeks but I have not done well the last few years winter creek fishing...

I've been catching fish on the main lake on jigs from my Tube in 25 ft of water. Easier in a Tube than trying to hold a boat still in the wind and jig a brush pile. But way doable. I use 2 1/8 jigs in tandem. I usually cannonball and do pretty well.

That really seems to be the key. On my favorite winter spot, there's no cover at all, just baitfish. I like to anchor. With just one anchor out, the boat will swing around quite a bit. I use the trolling motor to slow it down, my version of trolling, I guess you could say.

But I only use two rods. If I have minnows (and I often do in the winter) I have a minnow on one rod and a jig on the other. That has proven to be a great way for me to test my jigs, comparing what they catch to what minnows catch, on sometimes finicky winter fish.

And the winter pattern has definitely arrived on some lakes. In less than two hours Sunday morning, I caught over 30 keeping size crappie, 23 of them over 11 inches long, doing just what I described above.

But not every large school of shad has crappie with it, at least not ones that I can catch. I wish I had a couple more good winter spots. A winter trip with a guide who likes to troll would likely find you some good spots. Good luck.

You might want to consider hiring a guide. there are several in our area. Guy Skinner or Cliff Spindle can be of tremendous assistance. Either of these pro's will teach you the finer points and help you with stratagies.

Were still catching everything on brush with jigs. Finding the right depth is the key right now. Once you determine what depth is best stick to it. Every lake is a little bit different. I've found that our crappie here stick to brush and other deep cover until the water gets below 50. After that they pull off the cover and hold more on structure like creek channels and ledges.

Thanks for the responses. Gonna give the deeper piles, breaklines, points, and creek bends a look.