February/Early Spring Crappie

[Crappiegasman]

I have heard through out the years that allot of people catch allot of there trophy fish in February. Is this true for people on this forum?

If so, what I don't understand is why are the big fish caught when the water temps haven't started to rise or nothing has happened to trigger the fish to start biting? Thank you for your time!

[DockShootinJack]

My biggest to date was caught in late February. But I have not given it any thought till now.

[ShilohRed]

Figure I'm wrong, but days are getting longer. Thus fish know its now or never to feed more. Thus bigger fish and biting better, and they have not chased down meals all winter long. So heavy fish this time of year.
Hope someone else will do this justice.
Pete

[CrappiePappy]

I've caught most of my "big" fish in April or Oct .... but then I don't fish in Feb, either.

ShilohRed has a point ... depending on what part of the country you're in, Feb can be spawning time, pre-spawn feeding frenzy time, or just have conditions where they can feed without expending a whole lot of energy to catch their food (+ a low metabolism, so their weight don't drop from chasing their food).

Some of those "trophy" fish may have been caught in Feb (depending on location) simply because not many people fish then, and they have less competition from other anglers & thus get first shot at the bigger fish in their respective waters.

... cp

[bluedrifter]

I think Feb is kind of a general time frame. It depends on how far north or south you live in the country. I would say it is more of shad based bite that comes when water temps start to rise in late winter to early spring. This usually starts in late Feb and early March here in southern Indiana. Usually carp and shad activity in super shallow water at that time is a good indicator for me. Water temps can be 10-15 degrees warmer on large mud flats on bright sunny early spring days. The main body of the lake is only 40 degrees but back in the shallows water temps can be 50+.

[NIMROD]

Basically what they said. Fish not expeding lots of energy to chase food and trying to breathe with low oxygen of hot summer. They bulk up for spawning and forming eggs. They know spring is on the way. We see fish move up shallow or near the surface as soon as water starts warming if only a few degrees. They are usually ready to feed too.

[bluedrifter]

I think the bigger fish are the first to move shallow to claim spawning areas.