Need advice for fishing new lake

[gummy460]

This weekend im going to fish for crappie at a lake I have ever fished at before. The lake is around 20 acres large and gets about 50 foot deep in spots. I usually fish crappie during the spawn and am unfamiliar with fishing for them at this time of year and weather conditions. I can not use live bait at this lake. Any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated


Thank you

[StratosFS5]

Are you fishing from shore or from a boat? If boat, do you have a fish finder? If you're fishing from a boat, seeing the size of the lake it shouldn't take long to cruise around and find schools of crappie if they are deep. Try to find schools of baitfish also. If you find the baitfish the crappies will be nearby. Search any points first. Follow them out to deep water. The crappies should be at least in staging right now. If you find schools deep, I would suggest drop shotting "Gulp" minnows. They can be just as good as live bait. You can also try different colors of jigs. If you're fishing from shore, you will be limited as to what you can do. I would suggest using jigs or "Gulp" minnows under a slip bobber. Good luck!

[gummy460]

great thank you, how deep do they run usually and with it being cold in the morning is it best to wait until it warms up in the later part of the morning

[StratosFS5]

I don't know what temps you are having, but in the morning they will most likely be deeper, and should move shallower as the day warms up. All depends what water temps are now and how warm it will get and how much the sun shines when you are there. If the water temps get in the mid to high 50's, I would definitely search some of the shallower areas.