Snow on the ice

[duramax]

I've been fishing a 30' deep sand pit for 25yrs. I can catch crappie every trip if there is no snow on the ice but after it snows they seem to shut off. I have an auger and electronics. I've drilled lots of holes and fished all depths with all kinds of bait, still limited success. The lake is full of nice crappie, I can catch them in the spring with ease. What's my problem?

[Locator79]

Your problem seems to be snow on the ice!! Sorry, thats all I got.

[Harold]

Ther's one in every crowd.

[catchncrisco]

Lived on small lake ( 30 acres) had the same problem...never had a problem till the lake iced up. Everyone I talked to and even my expert ice fishing buddies couldn't figure it out. We blamed it on the lake being so clear and deep that the fish just shut down in the winter...feel your pain

[Eager Beaver]

Try fishing shallower. When the ice is clear the fish will go deeper or become more skidish. They can see your silhouette but with snow on the ice they can't see you and will move shallower. If there is any cover in 5-12 fow try there. Noise doesn't seem to scare them off, but a shadow will. EB

[Eager Beaver]

Lived on small lake ( 30 acres) had the same problem...never had a problem till the lake iced up. Everyone I talked to and even my expert ice fishing buddies couldn't figure it out. We blamed it on the lake being so clear and deep that the fish just shut down in the winter...feel your pain

Fish feed year around. In the winter time they just move slower and conserve their energy. The meal has to be worth the effort of them spending fuel to get it. The water is a lot clearer in the winter under the ice. There isn't much wave action to stir the bottom up so the water is clearer until the ice comes off and the wind gets to causing wave action again. EB