We went today to the creek, just before the weather changed again. It was nice when we started and then the wind picked up and the temp dropped about 15 degrees. Then it wasn't all that nice.


We were fishing a creek channel from the bank in 8 to 10 feet of water. I have had some excellent days in this area so I thought the fish were somewhere in the area, if we could just find them.

Using jigs under a bobber, casting 25 - 40 feet from shore, we started fishing about 3 feet under the bobber but could not get a bite. I switched to 4 then 5 feet, thinking they most probably were deeper and still no bite.
Went back to 2 feet under the bobber and that's where they were biting. For the next 1.5 hours we caught a bunch, hands got stiff from the cold and we called it a day.


This was a good example of finding the right depth. After we finally located them - we had 2 rigs side by side and the 2 foot depth would get bit and they wouldn't touch it 3 feet deep.

Here's one on the ice. That water was very cold.


Here's a nice fatty -


Anybody who doesn't think the fish will bite when it gets cold - well - some of my best fishing comes when it is very cold.



As stated, today was a good example of finding the correct depth. A similar thing happened to me about 2 weeks ago. We were fishing in a totally different spot than where we were today. Both of us were using slip corks. My buddy was fishing 5.5 � 6 ft deep and I was fishing about 4 feet deep. Casting about 30 � 35 feet from shore , fishing side by side my buddy caught 8 fish and I could not get bit. I was getting a good ole butt whoopin til I changed my slip cork to 6 feet � bam that was it.

These 2 instances, this winter. were perfect examples of fishing the correct depth. If I had given up after the first 30 � 45 minutes fishing at the wrong depth, I would have left thinking the fish were not there or not biting. It has been a very good learning experience. It makes me wonder just how many times I�ve missed the fish because I wasn�t at the correct depth.

Just because you caught them in a particular place in a particular manner is no guarantee that you can do it again. Sometimes you just have to keep trying different things, especially when you think the fish are there, and don't ever under estimate the importance of fishing the correct depth.

Also today we had to used weighted bobbers so we could cast to the sweet spot. I normally do not use the weighted ones but today the extra weight was necessary to make the long cast.

So � weighted bobbers, chartreuse/lime colored jigs, 2 feet under the bobber in creek channel, 8 � 10 feet of water, 25 - 40 feet from shore, water temp = very cold, LL feeder creek.

Good fishing!

Ive had days where inches mattered not feet to get them to bite. Crappie for the most part will always come up to feed and take a bait, again ALMOST always before the arguments start

When I'm at the ramp or elsewhere I see someone's has a good day, the thing I always ask is "What DEPTH did you catch them?"
Most people don't mind telling you this, and to me if they only tell me one thing, it's by far the most important.

this is an awesome post.. i knew the depth matters a lot but this totally throws off my mind. i thought the fish like to stay off the bottom during the cold days.. So, i educated myself to adjust my depth between the bottom and and the bottom half. But, my impression is that you had the most success from the depth between top to top half. Does this mean, if i get no bite, I pretty much have to work my depth from the top to all the way bottom? do fish actually come on top(2 to 5 ft from the surface) during the cold days when the depth is about 20 to 30 deep?

Dunky dude, the answer to your multiple questions is YES. Being from up north cold water to me means drilling thru a foot or two of ice. There are times the crappie will be feeding on soft bottom on scuds and you have to go down for them. Then a day or two later we catch them a foot under the ice. Can drive you nuts.

One of the best comments is that they ALMOST always feed up. I've used a float a lot and especially if water is calm you'll have a float standing straight up with a light jig underneath. Suddenly it will lay flat but not even move. Crappie took it on way up and is sitting there deciding if he's going to eat this thing or not. SET THE HOOK...or actually lift the rod and start reeling. Seldom need to worry about a real hook set with crappies.

Yes depth is very important, but if you are fishing at the wrong locations then depth DONT really matter !.

Good report Mr Peck.

A good example to that is :"6 boats was fishing under one row of column of the RH bridge!".

Nice post Robert!
Gotta get myself out into some creeks!

Fab

I say the only time of year when depth isn't the MOST important thing is when they're spawning. Only because when they're in 3ft of water I've had em hit jigs as soon as they hit the water, then next cast pick it up off the bottom. This is the only time of year I've ever had a crappie pick up a jig off bottom too. Other day I was fishing 28ft w tandem jigs. Sitting my bottom jog on the bottem, my top jig got bit every time I did this. Took the guess wk right out of it for me