question about crappie behavior/migration:
I was pondering the meaning of someone reporting "the crappie are off the trees". What do they mean? If not on the trees (brushpiles included, I presume), then where? Suspended deep? Is this why long-lining is recommended? The crappie are suspended in deeper water? Last week I found plenty crappie on trees (Oconee), but the surface water temp was 61F that day, and since the big cold front, is probably in upper 50s now.
As I have read, crappie go deep in too warm (above 80F) or too cold water (below 50F) as a generalization, and so are supposed to be moving deep this time of year as water temps drop thru 50. I realize the many other factors such as water level, bait moving up the creeks, have a lot to do with it, so this question is mainly "why and when" long-lining becomes more productive than timber dippin' or brushpile fishing in the fall? I realize many long-line all the time, but when does it really get good in the fall, and any reasons why?
The spawn transition is a little easier to understand to me.
"Alive without breath, as cold as death; never thirsty, ever drinking, all in mail never clinking."