looking for help !

[Pinche]

Hi Im a newbie to this fourm but have been fishing for several years. I live on a smaller (91 acre) lake in oakland co. This lake has some nice crappie in it. During the spring , summer and fall I have little problem finding and catching fish. My question or questions are :

Where would one start looking for crappie during the winter months ? I cannot find em

Also night fishing , which Im new to. Lights or no lights ? deep or shallow ? close to the humps or suspended in open water?

The lake I fish the water is very clear ! With steep drop-offs lined with weeds there is one mid lake hump that I target allot with good sucess. ( except the times and conditions listed above)


I am thinking of going out tonight and giving it another try.

Thanks in advance for any input or tips.

BTW Im obviousally fishing open water now from a row boat powered with a trolling motor. Since we HAVE NO ICE YET !!!


is there a spell check am I missing it ?

[slabsrus]

First look for structure in some of the deeper water of the lake. If the deepest hole or holes are only ten feet then check there. If is a deep lake I have often found specks as deep as 35 feet. They are often suspended in deep water so check the entire water column. Also check bays in the 6 - 12 foot range that have tall weed growth or wood structure. In these bays they will definitely be relating to the structure, often right next to it. In the weeded bays I usually find them in pockets and inside turns of weed lines. Night fishing can really produce with lights this time of year. Use a submersible or a surface light and present your baits just on the outside edge of where the light ends.

[Pinche]

thanks for the input. Ill try the lights again tonight. The deepest hole in the lake is around 50 ft. the crappies are usually in about 25 ft 8-12 down just off of a hump only like I said they have not seemed interested the past month or so.

If we dont get ice soon I may go nutty . This is crazy !

A quick question about the light . ... Is it OK to point the light directly into the water or would it be better to but it in an old minnow bucket to get more of a glowing effect ? BTW Im useing an old headlight out of a car.

Pinche

[Pinche]

well I didnt go out last night due to heavy rains and wind .......going tonight

[Pinche]

Skunked Im starting to think the lake Im fishing may be a morning lake. Ive been out night fishing 7-8 times and only remember catching 3-4 fish ever . I dunno

[ReelFun]

This guy is the king of night fishing as far as most are conserned. Maybe you'll draw some insight from this.
http://www.crappie.com/rango/index.htm

[Pinche]

Thanks reelfun Ill check it out !!