Thread: Fall - shallow water crappie

With the water temps in the lower 50's and continuing to drop, do you think it is a waste of time to fish in less than 6 feet of water? What's your thoughts??

I limit out more in 2-4 foot of water than in 6+ fow in Oct, Nov, and Dec. especially in murkier water... fish don't get cold, so focus on the bait fish, and the oxygen levels that's were the crappie will be.

Originally Posted by High Tide

I limit out more in 2-4 foot of water than in 6+ fow in Oct, Nov, and Dec. especially in murkier water... fish don't get cold, so focus on the bait fish, and the oxygen levels that's were the crappie will be.

I almost gave this thread a subject of "shad location" but figured I get straight to the point with "fall - shallow water crappie". With that being said, in large resivoirs do you think the shad will head back to shallow water. I've been finding most of them (shad) in the mouths of coves in the deeper water. I feel the shad have already been to the back of coves and are heading out. I guess I was just wanting someone with experience say "you are correct in your thinking" or "you are way off".

Originally Posted by Bartman

I almost gave this thread a subject of "shad location" but figured I get straight to the point with "fall - shallow water crappie". With that being said, in large resivoirs do you think the shad will head back to shallow water. I've been finding most of them (shad) in the mouths of coves in the deeper water. I feel the shad have already been to the back of coves and are heading out. I guess I was just wanting someone with experience say "you are correct in your thinking" or "you are way off".

I was out yesterday, and seen shad in 4 fow on a large reservoir, and watched my vexilar blow up with shad balls many times in the back of coves during early ice. But I don't think it's all about the shad either, could be insects (that will also bring the year's fry searching for food) especially coves fed by small feeder creeks. In the fall, the water might be a degree warmer in the back of the coves, and encompass that with warmer surface water (sunny days) blowing into the cove and add some rusty steel dock posts, it's a receipe for shallow water fall crappie bite. Since there is more variables then time, when you're out in the next couple weeks, look for the right receipe (like the one I mentioned above), give it a shot for a half hour, if you don't have luck then you'll have the answer. One more tip, I use a bobber about 12"-18" down in 2-3 fow of water, but use the smallest one that can hold up the jig because the big crappie spook very easily. If you have a 10 ft, thin tip vertical jigging pole that works great too. I can't tell you what's right or wrong, just my experience on the water in the fall when crappie fishing... Good Luck... HT

Good info HT. Thanks for the detailed comments.

HHD

im alil ways away from yall. but all of our big fish have been coming at 6-12 inches in 3-4 ft of water...80% is coming of wood and the other 20% is just in the wide open but cant catch nothing really over 10inchs fishing any deeper then 1ft

fishing shallow in the fall is great, but in flood control reservoirs such as the upper wabash system that have a drawdown.....no one can overlook one very prominent pattern that produces well for slabs......when the reservoir starts to drop a lot of the bait fish such as gizzard shad around here will start pulling out of the creeks into the main channel area....primary and secondary points can be killer at times....one such example is when the shad start pulling out of forked branch at mississinewa.....the submerged bridge there can be killer....i like using #4 shad rap RS and #5 original shad raps....but im a crankbait man...fishing would prolly be better on jigs though

Thanks for replies and comments. I guess I better no give up shollow yet.

High Tide...I reread my post and I hope you took no offense win I said "I was just wanting someone with experience". BY NO MEANS was that directed towards you. I'm greatful for you sharing your experieces in great detail. THANKS!!

Originally Posted by Bartman

Thanks for replies and comments. I guess I better no give up shollow yet.

High Tide...I reread my post and I hope you took no offense win I said "I was just wanting someone with experience". BY NO MEANS was that directed towards you. I'm greatful for you sharing your experieces in great detail. THANKS!!

It's all good... keep us posted on your success in the shallows.