I think I have used them once or twice in winter. Murder on some bluegill but don't remember catching a crappie on them. I am going to say depending on the forage base they would work. But I do not know of a Lake within a hundred miles of here anymore that's not chock full of shad of different sizes. They seem to have just adjusted to them as the main course. They do get in on the insect hatches at times though so I know they still eat a few bugs.