Water Temperatures Guide

[Bob # 1]

Water Temperature: 35 Degrees
Crappie will be holding tight to bottom cover in 30-50 feet deep and
tight-lipped, but they still need to eat and is catchable with the right
presentation. Look for humps or other bottom-hugging cover in or near
main-lake river channels. Fish straight down with a vertical
presentation using small live minnows on a Kentucky rig, or very
slowly "bounce" small spoons jigged just above the fish. Kentucky
Rig consist of two hooks about a foot or two apart with a bell sinker
attached to bottom.

Water Temperature: 40 Degrees
Schools of crappie often suspend in open water in 20-30 feet deep as
they begin migrating from deep river channels toward major tributaries,
where they will eventually spawn. Most females will remain on river
channel structure in considerably deeper water. Slow troll as slow as
possible with hook/minnow and a Road Runner with minnow tied on
bottom just above the schools.

Water Temperature: 45 Degrees
Many crappies have started migrating toward their eventual spawning
areas. Target crappie hanging tight to submerged wood on deep
channel banks, about a quarter of the way into the creek arm, 10 to 20
feet deep. Cast soft plastic grubs or other lures with a vibrating tails to
channel bends with wood. Cast, let the lure sink until it contacts the
cover, then immediately begin swimming it slowly and steadily back to
the boat.

Water Temperature: 50 Degrees
The prespawn migration is in full swing, with large numbers of crappies
moving into reservoir tributary arms. The males will make their move
shallower following a few days of mild, sunny weather. Continue
targeting the creek channel migration route, keying on isolated wood
cover along channel bends with deep water nearby, since crappie will
insulate themselves from the impact of frontal passages. Fish with
minnow or jig/wax worm in wood cover as males are preparing the
cover for the spawn. Sometimes it wouldn't hurt to turn around and fish
off other side of the boat with a Kentucky rig baited with minnows or a
minnow/tube bait combination along the channel drop. The females will
be hanging there waiting for the prime time to move in to spawn.

Water Temperature: 55 Degrees
Expect the bite to get more aggressive as crappies begin feeling “the
urge to merge” and feed heavily before spawning. Schools of baitfish
continue to be a primary location factor as crappies fatten up before
spawning. Shallow ditches veering off the creek channel and running
toward shallow spawning coves can hold huge fish. Work the creek
channel with curly-tail grubs or minnows, keying on brushy cover in the
6 to 12 foot zone. Crappie may be as shallow as 1-3 feet deep along
these structures.

Water Temperature: 60 Degrees
Male crappies fan out the nest while the females hang around outside
the cover witing for the water temperature to get a degree or two
warmer before moving in on the beds, and now is a good time to load
the boat with oversize fish. Some crappie may have already started the
spawn if shallower water is warmer. Tightlining minnows and jigging
tube baits around sunken cover will score heavy crappie catches in
murky water. In clear water, back off your target, make a long cast and
swim a curlytail grub.

Water Temperature: 65 Degrees
Spawning should be in full swing now, but some will still be in a
prespawn mode. If you aren’t catching quality fish on likely spawning
cover, back off and target prespawn crappies instead. Spawning takes
place on woody cover such as: brush piles, stake beds, etc... in the
upper ends of brushy coves and creek arms, in 2 to 8 feet deep, and
some as shallow as 6 inches deep depending on the lake's water
clarity. Prespawn fish will be in three to six feet of water, but will chase
minnows shallower. Tight-lining minnows on long rods is the standard
method now, but target-casting grubs and tubes to submerged wood
works, too.

Water Temperature: 70 Degrees
Some crappies will be done spawning, while others are finally moving
onto their beds. Keep fishing as the spawn is still going strong. Cast
tubes and grubs or tight-line minnows close to cover. If you’re catching
small fish, back off and hit deeper isolated stake beds and stumps for
the bigger females.

Water Temperature: 75 Degrees
While a few lingering crappie may still be spawning, postspawn fish will
hang around bedding areas for several days until the water temperature
rises. Some postspawn fish will be on isolated pieces of cover
adjacent to spawning sites as the males move back in to protect the
nests. Determine the crappies’ spawning mode. If tube baits or
minnows don’t produce strikes in thick brush and stake beds, cast
grubs to scattered wood.

Water Temperature: 80 Degrees
Most crappie fishermen hang up their rods after the spawn, but a shift in
tactics can yield fast action on postspawn fish. Before moving to their
deep summer haunts, many crappies gravitate to the edges of flats,
hanging tight to scattered wood or suspending above the breakline
closest to the structure. Troll small diving crankbaits like the 200 series
Bandit around the edges of flats in the 6 to 18 foot zone, occasionally
banging the plugs off stumps and bottom.

Water Temperature: 85 Degrees
Crappies will be moving out of tributaries via the same creek channel
migration routes they traveled before spawning. Slabs gang up on
secondary and primary points that drop quickly into deep water. Look
for them suspending 18 to 30 feet deep around baitfish schools. Target
channel points using a Kentucky rig bumped slowly along bottom.

Water Temperature: 90 Degrees
Crappies suspend for long periods, and may be sluggish now to
conserve metabolic energy. River-run reservoirs with a flowing channel
usually have better fishing now than calmer lakes. Channel ledges
lined with standing timber or brushy cover offer your best bet now.
Crappies are probably suspending 18 to 30 feet deep in 50 feet of
water. You can still catch crappie in shallow water if you can find shady
areas such as lily pads and over-hanging trees where water may be
cooler.

[Bob # 1]

Water Temperature: 85 Degrees
While the lake’s surface temperature cools quickly as the days grow
shorter in early fall, deeper water cools more gradually, so expect to
find crappies deep. Deep channel cover continues to be your best bet
for finding concentrations of fish. Kentucky rigs bumped along cover
and minnows or spoons jigged over wood.

Water Temperature: 80 Degrees
Crappies are following channels, or moving shallow to prey on baitfish
schools, so expect a pickup in activity. Primary tributary points, where
the creek and river channel intersect, can hold a ton of baitfish and
crappies. Target the 12 to 25 foot zone with minnows on a Kentucky rig.
If crappies are suspended, slow-troll jigs, Road Runners, or crankbaits.

Water Temperature: 75 Degrees
Shad move into shallow coves and tributaries to spawn, and crappies
follow. The first half of reservoir tributary arms will hold large schools
of crappies. Target scattered wood along the creek channel 10 to 20
feet deep, sometimes shallower depending on water clarity. Kentucky
rigs with minnow works well for me.

Water Temperature: 70 Degrees
Crappies follow baitfish back into the tributaries to feed and fatten up
for the winter. Check channels, secondary points and flats in the back
half of reservoir tributary arms. Crappies hold anywhere from two to 10
feet deep, depending on water clarity. Cover water quickly, casting a
curly-tail grub or small shad colored crankbait to every piece of wood
you can find.

Water Temperature: 65 Degrees
Reservoir drawdown usually starts about this time, thus dropping water
levels push baitfish and crappies out of tributary arms into deeper
water. Crappies use the same migratory routes they took in spring to
move back to the main lake. Find them on creek channel cover in the
10-18 feet deep. Cast grubs or bump Kentucky rigs around creek
channel cover.

Water Temperature: 60 Degrees
Colder nights spell a rapid cool-down. As drawdown continues, many
crappies leave reservoir tributaries. Deep points and steep banks at or
near the mouths of tributaries hold large schools of crappies in the 15-
to 25-foot zone. Try slow trolling live minnows on long rods rigged with
heavy sinkers. Lower the sinker to bottom, then reel up to the level of
suspended crappie. The sinkers will help locate cover and prevent
hooks from snagging.

Water Temperature: 55 Degrees
The 60-degree pattern should remain about the same until the lake
turns over. Deep points and steep rock bluffs near tributary mouths
hold concentrations of fish. Slow troll jigs or pull crankbaits through
schools of fish in the open water between the points.

Water Temperature: 50 Degrees
Turnover usually occurs during the fall-winter transition, triggering a
wholesale movement of crappies. Crappies are often tight to bottom
around intersection of channels in 25 to 40 feet deep, and they’re going
to stay that way through the cold weather months, so slow trolling with
vibrating lures could be your best bet along the channels.

Water Temperature: 45 Degrees
Crappies have settled into a winter pattern now, setting up on deep
channel structure. Channels with brush, 18 to 40 feet deep. Fish the
bottom along bends, drop-offs, and humps..

Water Temperature: 40 Degrees
Crappies are deep and feed only sporadically. Look for crappies 30 to
50 feet deep. Fishing spoons along the channel, or hug bottom with
your Kentucky rig.

Author: Paul Mahler

[Flatwater]

OK what would you do it your lake is max dept of 7 feet and so dark it can rise up 10 degrees in one day.

[fished-out]

Shoot pontoons and docks; if none, look for overhanging brush and get behind it; look for lily pads and fish the pockets. None of the above, stumps and brush; if none, plant some!

[blairarnold]

Interesting chart.

[speckfinder]

pretty close

[Ken Jones]

His article on Water Temperature was copied from a magazine. The magazine was The North American Fisherman. This article makes him look like a expert in catching crappie. Mybe you are Bob#1. He might be and I could be wrong. I'm sorry if I'm wrong.

[blairarnold]

His article on Water Temperature was copied from a magazine. The magazine was The North American Fisherman. This article makes him look like a expert in catching crappie. Mybe you are Bob#1. He might be and I could be wrong. I'm sorry if I'm wrong.

You may not have noticed, but his post show's that Paul Mahler was the author.

[Ken Jones]

Okay thats good.

[jaxsprat]

blairarnold
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Jones
His article on Water Temperature was copied from a magazine. The magazine was The North American Fisherman. This article makes him look like a expert in catching crappie. Mybe you are Bob#1. He might be and I could be wrong. I'm sorry if I'm wrong.

You may not have noticed, but his post show's that Paul Mahler was the author.
[/QUOTE]
I have read other articles etc. posted by bob#1 and he does give credits to his sources there also always seemed to me to be a up right standing kind of guy and a nice person--even tho he does plant tomatoe plants upside down