Are you a crappie commando?  Are you the “go to” guy or gal in your
hometown that people approach when wanting to know information on where
and how to catch crappie?  If not, I am going to tell you how to locate
crappie hotspots in your area.

The importance of water temperature is one of the first things to remember
when locating crappie.  Understanding water temperature and how it affects
the behavior of crappie is probably the most important piece of crappie
knowledge that you can be armed with. In January through March, the water
temperature typically ranges between 35 and 45 degrees. During this
period, crappie are sluggish, but can still be caught by the boatloads if
you fish the correct locations.  Where do you begin?  Start by boating
into your favorite cove where you caught crappie in the spring.

Now, turn the boat around and head back out of the cove and into deeper water.
Utilizing your depth finder, find the deep channel that feeds your
favorite spring cove.  Typically, I look for depths of water between 15
and 30 ft. deep. Crappie will be located just off the edge of the deep
channel or suspended 10 to 20 ft. deep.  Vertical jigging is my preferred
method when catching cold water crappie….More on vertical jigging later.

In March through May, water temperatures should now be somewhere in the
range of 50 to 60 degrees.  Do not get caught sitting at home when water
temperatures reach these heights. Crappies are in the pre-spawn mode now
and will be located at the mouth of your favorite spring cove. Look for
water depths of 8 to 15 ft. Crappie will stick tight to cover, such as
submerged or fallen trees.  If there is a lack of cover in your fishing
hole, drop anchor and throw a jig towards the bank. Slowly work the jig up
and down from the bank until you feel the jig fall into deeper water.
Crappie will suspend themselves just off of the shallow bank that leads
into the deeper water.

Most crappie fishermen look forward to the water temperature increasing to
60 to 70 degrees. At this temperature, crappie will be located in shallow
water where they are making and protecting the nest for the spawn.
Depending on water clarity, you will probably find crappie in 1 to 3 feet
of water. Look for any piece of structure and drop your jig or live bait
beside it. If structure is limited, keep an eye out for rocky surfaces in
1 to 3 feet of water. Crappie will utilize the rocky surface to spawn, if
no other structure exists. Crappie will be actively defending their nest
this time of year from predators.

Once water temperatures reach the 75 degree mark, the spawn is over.
Crappie move back out into deeper water and begin their summer pattern.
Catching crappie when water temperatures reach these degrees is similar to
catching crappie in the winter. Crappie will be more active in the summer
than the winter, but will still be located in the deep channels leading
out of your favorite fishing cove. My preferred method of catching summer
crappie is by trolling….Techniques for trolling to be discussed in a
future blog.

Keep the above information in mind next time you head out to the water. I
guarantee that you will become a more successful crappie fisherman.

Until next time... Be safe... And Happy Fishing

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