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Thread: Fall to Winter

  1. #1
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    Default Fall to Winter


    First I want to say thank you for all the great information on this site. I think I have opened every post at least once if not twice.

    I just started targeting crappies in the last few months. I feel I have a decent understanding of the fall pattern. Here is what is working for me now.

    1. Bait, bait, and more bait.. Find the bait and find the crappie.

    2. I'm finding the crappie in 10fow to 20fow.. The most active fish are suspended in 7fow to 10fow. It does not matter the depth I"m in. I'm finding fish on the edge of steep drop offs or over habitat boxes. Again the bait is there!

    3. I'm using artifical bait 2.5 inches or smaller right now. It's working no need to change. Technique slip cork/bobber and vertical jigging with 2 jigs on one line.

    How differnt is the winter fishing? What can i use that i have learned this fall and apply toward winter. What will I need to know this winter?


    Here is the last few outings.

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    The last 6 trips have been the same all successful!

    Thank you!
    Likes wahanlin, GREENFISH, TMQ, Slab Apprentice LIKED above post

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    Maybe a little more information is needed. I fish lakes and reservoirs. We have a 50% chance the bodies of water will freeze in the winter. Last winter they did not and I spent all winter chasing walleyes. My wife and I have been a boat owner for only a year. We decided each year we would pick a new species to target. The first year was chasing walleye in the river system and lakes. This year we started chasing crappie. Next year will either be Kokanee or Sturgeon or even burbot. We've only missed 6 weekends in the last year to take our boat out fishing. Our drive time to get to navigable water is an minimal of 1.5 hours up to 3 hours. I have tried to search (winter) on the forums not much shows up in the search for winter.

  3. #3
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    You might try checking posts/threads on the California state forum. You might also contact some of the members in Calif. by PM.

    Normally, slowing down your presentation in Winter (because of the reduced metabolism of the fish) is a good idea. Fall fish are generally feeding heavy in prep for Winter weather & cooler water temps, and their metabolism slows during that time ... so they don't have to eat as often, but still have to eat to maintain their health until water temps start rising back towards temps in their pre-spawn feeding period.

    Personally, I'd keep doing what you're already doing ... and slow down my presentation, downsize my baits, and add scent products if the action starts slowing down in the colder water period. I use Slabanator Scent Sticks or Slab Sauce as my primary scent products.

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    Thank you CP.

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    Agree with cp. I fish all winter in lakes. I target open water. Usually find them in deeper water and in the bottom 3’ when water temps get below 50 degrees. I do slow my presentation but also tips jigs with minnow or move to a larger profile bait for greater catch rates.


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    Once water temps drop into the 50s here (LA), we start fishing deep. Double minnow rigs on or near the bottom in the deepest holes worked last winter for me.

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    What's deep water? One of the lakes I fish goes over 100fow. I think I read some where up to 40ft of water for winter? What's a good starting point? I will have a ton of water to search.

    Thanks in advance...

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    Quote Originally Posted by Capt Cormorant View Post
    What's deep water? One of the lakes I fish goes over 100fow. I think I read some where up to 40ft of water for winter? What's a good starting point? I will have a ton of water to search.

    Thanks in advance...
    Not sure. Where I was, 20-25 feet was the deepest and that's where they were. I do remember reading that 40ft number somewhere, too.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Capt Cormorant View Post
    What's deep water? One of the lakes I fish goes over 100fow. I think I read some where up to 40ft of water for winter? What's a good starting point? I will have a ton of water to search.

    Thanks in advance...
    If those deep lakes don't "turn over" then you wouldn't want to fish any deeper than the thermocline (if it exists).

    FYI ... Thermocline is the depth where the warmest water in the lake sits on top of much cooler water (warm water is less dense).
    "turnover" is when the weather cools off the upper warm layers of water to the point where that layer of water sinks through the lower part of the warm layer & mixes it all up. The faster & more extreme the turnover, or the more shallow areas which it occurs in, the more chance that bottom sediment will be disturbed in the mixing. This results in blackish water color & a "stink" (from the decaying matter on the bottom & the sulfur gases trapped in the sediment. A slower turnover may happen & may even go unnoticed ... except for noticing the falling temps on your depthfinder.

    Another depth marker is where the dissolved oxygen content goes below 5mg/L ... as shown in this chart of one of the lakes I fish, which shows the Thermocline at ~ 30ft & the DO level drops below 5 at around 25ft deep.



    This chart is from the COE & is taken at the dam of this lake, so the accuracy may suffer in far reaches of the lake.

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    One thing to remember if you find them in deep water is that they may not survive if you attempt to release them after bringing them up from the deeper depths. I don't know where the magic line of depth vs. surviving the release falls as I seldom fish deeper than 25'.
    Yes, I was talking to myself; sometimes even I have to ask for expert advice.

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