Originally Posted by
Darryl Morris
Of course they can be in most any water temp, but it has been my experience that crappie are the most active and aggressive when the water is between 55 and 75, where the mid-60's is optimal. The water temps we read from our graphs are surface temps. Generally in summer, as the water gets deeper the less light penetration and thus cooler water. In winter, the opposite might be true where the surface temp might be colder than deeper water. In fact, some of our northern neighbors get that 32 degree or less hard water on the surface, LOL.
The warmer the water the less oxygen and naturally the crappie are going to be where they can breath. And the colder the water since they are cold blooded creatures are going to be where they can survive better. Start early in the year when the water is really cold and as Spring approaches follow them into the shallows for the spawn. Don't forget that surface temps in the main body will be colder than the temps in the backs of shallow coves, especially the northwest corners. As Spring wears off and the weather warms into Summer, follow them back out into deeper water. When the water cools with Fall weather they will be shallower and then back deep again for Winter.
I have found the above to be true with large reserviors (3000+ acres) with deep water (40 foot or more) in the mid-latitudes (what I like to call the Crappie Belt). The same might be true for smaller impoundments with shallower water north or south of the Crappie Belt but the differences in catching crappie during the season will be more subtle. It might also be even more difficult to catch them when the crappie aren't able to find that comfort zone in the water temp.