Hello everybody.

My name is Lawson and I have recently bought a 13' aluminum v hull with a tohatsu 9.9hp 4 stroke motor. No trolling motor but can troll at 1.0-1.5 mph.

That being said this is my first boat and my full fishing experience has been from the bank, surf, pier, and walking streams. Crappie fishing to me has been to take the light bulb and float it around the dock at night and cast minnows on bobbers around it.

I've been on crappie.com for weeks reading about how yall are fishing these cold weather months on lakes. I've been trying some of your advice at Jordan Lake NC with limited success. I know its me because I have saw folks pulling them in. I have a small lowrance fishfinder that I use an it seems to provide good picture, but still somewhat confused about how to relate the structure on the screen to the water around me.

I'm trying to determine if I need to locate structure (or what appears to be) and drop anchor or try to setup a few rod holders for a slow troll. There is not currently a deck at the front of the boat for setting up and watching over the lines.

I have 4 colors of plastic that I am trying on unpainted jig heads 1/32 & 1/8 tipped with minnows. Chartreuse, Orange, Black, Pumpkin. I have 1 each 6' 8' 12' light action rods with 6 lb. test. I've tried slip bobbers, Single Jig, and double jig. Have a few capps and coleman style rigs but haven't trolled yet.

I'm looking for any and all help about how I maybe able to catch a fish fry on Jordan Lake before it gets warm and the lake is full of boats and jetskis.