How deep?

[Catscratch]

I'm new here so go easy on me.
How deep do you sink your crappie structures? I can make just about any number of the designs that I've seen on here, just not sure where the best spot to sink them is...

Thanks.

[smashdn]

Depends. Lots of factors.

First thing I would ask is when do you fish for crappie? What time of the year do you want to catch fish over them?

You can build shallow stuff (to me that is less than 6' deep), you can put them out in deep water (20-30' deep) and fish them in winter and summer. You can have the only structure on a barren flat and hold every fish or you can put them along natural travel routes like ditches and creek channel edges and ledges to hold fish.

[Catscratch]

I fish yr round so shallow and deep are probably a good idea. We get a lot of moss/algae... shallow structures may have problems due to getting covered.
Thanks.

[NIMROD]

That is a hard to answer question , Ever lake has different average depth , color , amount of cover , and ect . Time of year , water level , and other factors come into play . One lake I fish they range 2 to 10 most of the year where others they may move deep when the depth is available . Some tell you fish go deep in hot weather but some lakes with low oxygen they have been known to go super shallow in temps over 100 .

[Lowellhturner]

The predominant winds on any body of water can also be a factor as well as shadows cast by shore line trees, buildings, breakwaters, ect. As Nimrod and others have said there can be a variety of factors that seasonally effect crappie locations...

[Catscratch]

South winds are the norm during my fishing season and there are no shadows until late evening. 19 acre watershed that usually has clear water and lots of algae/moss near the banks (6ft or less). I want to sink some attractant on the north side within casting distance of bank for times when I can't get a boat out.
I fear that if I sink it too shallow it will get covered with algae and become a solid mass that is unusable though. Is this a valid fear, or will they still use something that is completely covered?

[Lowellhturner]

Crappie use cover as ambush points more than actual cover, they are attracted by baitfish and other prey that does use the cover. Unless the cover is densely covered chances are it will work and by sinking them in lines shallow to deep at least some of them will have less algae on them...

[jnebgud]