How deep will they go

[crappie_dan]

I dont do much winter time fishing but was wondering in a deep lake how deep can you find crappie in the winter?

[skiptomylu]

Here on Toledo Bend there is a spot that is well known all over the country called the Chicken Coop and in Jan. they usually catch the crappie about 40' down in the river. Wall to wall boats too.

Skip

[SpeckWick]

I've read about crappie being caught on lakes like Dale Hollow 50 plus feet deep. Don't assume that just because it's cold that all the crappie go deep though. Not all at once anyway. We've been finding the big slabs in 3'-10' of water with a surface temp of 38-40 degrees. A lot of them are 2.5'-3' deep or less. This is in a lake with plenty of depths of 40 feet plus, even close to 100' in places. They will often follow the shad or whatever baitfish into shallow water to feed, especially feeder creeks and rivers or bays with shallow and deep water close together. Of course, there are always some fish deep as well, but I like catching tight when I can.

[Darryl Morris]

Sometimes we catch them 28-34' deep.

[fishing buddy]

Caught them at 28' to 30' before

[L.A. stumpjumper]

They are caught in Lake Monticello in 55-60 ft of water. Kinda like fishing in a well.

[sea-sons]

I caught a nice bunch of slabs in 50' over 4 bamboo condos put in real close together. Some were caught down 35' just over the condos and caught some on down close to the bottom.

[DRPEPPER]

Here on Toledo Bend there is a spot that is well known all over the country called the Chicken Coop and in Jan. they usually catch the crappie about 40' down in the river. Wall to wall boats too.

Skip

I have some great 40/45 year old memories of my Grandfather and the "Coop" when I lived in Texas. Specially this time of the year.
Here in Arkansas I fish a lake that avearges 6' with the deepest holes no more than 12'. I have the winter time hole found. But, there really is no set pattern. They could be 9' hugging the brush one day, then on the banks the next.
DP

[fingerlicken]

I have some great 40/45 year old memories of my Grandfather and the "Coop" when I lived in Texas. Specially this time of the year.
Here in Arkansas I fish a lake that avearges 6' with the deepest holes no more than 12'. I have the winter time hole found. But, there really is no set pattern. They could be 9' hugging the brush one day, then on the banks the next.
DP

They are like that here sometimes it will drive you nuts finding them.

[crappie_dan]

I cant imagine fishing lakes that are only 10' deep. Looks like it would be easy finding fish then.