January issue of In-Fisherman

[Roberta]

The January issue just arrived this week and there are two articles of interest to crappie fishermen.
One is on the winter survival of age 0 white crappie in Ohio reservoirs. It appears that water temp plays a bigger part than energy reserves. When water goes below 39 degrees, for at least one week, only 47% of YOY white crappie survive. Since we've been iced up for a week now, one might assume that there will be fewer white crappie to reach adulthood in Ohio waters in the next two years. They're thinking that a chemical imbalance results from the prolonged exposure tolow water temps.

The other article is on various dropper rigs for crappie fishing through the ice or in open water. - Roberta

[ReelFun]

The January issue just arrived this week and there are two articles of interest to crappie fishermen.
One is on the winter survival of age 0 white crappie in Ohio reservoirs. It appears that water temp plays a bigger part than energy reserves. When water goes below 39 degrees, for at least one week, only 47% of YOY white crappie survive. Since we've been iced up for a week now, one might assume that there will be fewer white crappie to reach adulthood in Ohio waters in the next two years. They're thinking that a chemical imbalance results from the prolonged exposure tolow water temps.

The other article is on various dropper rigs for crappie fishing through the ice or in open water. - Roberta

Got mine yesterday both aticles were interesting.

[Nightprowler]

If the surface temps are below freezing, what temp is the bottom temp?

[frank lawhead]

Was Wondering The Same Thing ?????

[crappieken]

Water is heaviest at 39.2 degrees F. ( 4 degrees C). In the fall as the water cools and the surface temperature hits 39.2 degrees the surface water sinks, pushing the warmer water to the surface. Once the water throughout all the depths reaches 39.2 degrees, the surface water continues to cool until it reaches 32 degrees and the lake freezes. Unless the lake freezes from the surface to the bottom, the water below the ice will always have the lowest layer of water at a temperature of 39.2 degrees until the point where the lake is completely frozen from top to bottom and the lowest layer of water then cools from 39.2 degrees to 32 degrees. This is my understanding of the process, please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

[captnhazelwood69]

Here in Canada where most of the lakes freeze, The surface temp is around 32 Degree's ( just below freezing temp ) and the bottom temp in 20 ft. of water is usually around 34/35 degrees. In deeper lakes , the bottom might be a couple of degrees warmer than this. These were taken with an aquaview that has temp on it. Hope this helps.

Crappie Crazy Canuck

[Moose1am]

4 deg Centigrade or 39.2 deg F at the bottom of the lake (ie deepest water in the lake will be at this temp) The water at 4 deg C is the denser than the water at 5 deg C or above and therefore sinks. Water at 3 deg is less dense than water at 4 deg and will rise. Water at 0 deg is frozen ice an the ice internal structure is more open than cold water and therefore much lighter and will float to the surface.

We are very lucky that water has these unique physical and chemical properties. If not then the ice would start at the bottom of our lakes and freeze from the bottom up. The fish would not survive that kind of environment.

Water is unique in that it gets denser as it gets colder until it gets to 4 deg C and then for some strange reason it gets lighter as it gets colder down to freezing.

If the surface temps are below freezing, what temp is the bottom temp?

[Fred in Ky]

Now that is a very good explaination of the ol' lake turnover.

4 deg Centigrade or 39.2 deg F at the bottom of the lake (ie deepest water in the lake will be at this temp) The water at 4 deg C is the denser than the water at 5 deg C or above and therefore sinks. Water at 3 deg is less dense than water at 4 deg and will rise. Water at 0 deg is frozen ice an the ice internal structure is more open than cold water and therefore much lighter and will float to the surface.

We are very lucky that water has these unique physical and chemical properties. If not then the ice would start at the bottom of our lakes and freeze from the bottom up. The fish would not survive that kind of environment.

Water is unique in that it gets denser as it gets colder until it gets to 4 deg C and then for some strange reason it gets lighter as it gets colder down to freezing.

[ifish]

The artical about winter kill in In - Fisherman came from this study . http://www.montana.edu/~wwwbi/staff/...pie-winter.pdf It might give someone something to read for the rest of this dad - blame winter. Ready to catch some crappie. How about you all !!!!

[Roberta]

Additionally, some northern fishermen report that some of the best spots for late winter fishing are the holes where the ice starts to break up - along shorelines and timber. Those openings will allow some fresh oxygen to get mixed into the water, attracting macroinvertebrates, then baitfish, then predators.
Good explaination on turnover, Moose. - Roberta