Where do you find them early sprng before spawn

[Potatoe]

Doing some Walleye fishing and also chasing crappie. I have not had any luck locating them. I am hitting a spot where I had luck last year in early May. Water temp is 54 - 56 moving around with weather. I am casting in with 1/6 ounce jig head and a slider on. I have a feeling they are out deeper but can not locate. This is a smaller lake with brush piles, looking for any advice or thoughts. I also have 13' Southern Crappie rods I have not brought out yet.

thanks for any help

[Ketchn]

if they are black crappie they are likely shallow real early in the mornings before the sun gets up good after a day or two of sunshine and warm weather ...my 2 cents

[Potatoe]

Thanks Ketchn, have read many of your posts. I appreciate the info, we are getting hammered with rain and then maybe a little sun on Saturday. I might try an early outing on Sunday

[Tom 513]

if they are black crappie they are likely shallow real early in the mornings before the sun gets up good after a day or two of sunshine and warm weather ...my 2 cents

Thanks Ketchn, have read many of your posts. I appreciate the info, we are getting hammered with rain and then maybe a little sun on Saturday. I might try an early outing on Sunday

Well about 6 weeks ago on lake Chickamgua we found them staging in the mouths of creeks, after locating schools, we dropped anchor and casted jigs till we limited out, fish were 7ft and deeper in 14th ft or water, we cast 1/16th oz jig heads, count to 7 then slow roll till we feel the thump.

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[spartannation]

Maybe slow it down a little. I have a spring spot that I do real well on jigs and plastic under a bobber. Twitch it now and then to make it swim. If I cast and retrieve, they won't touch it. Might try a lively minnow under a bobber as well.

[no1son]

I look for warmer waters generally shallow with mud flats especially on sunny warm afternoons. IMO they both come to take the rays and to feed on early insect hatches that the sun brings off. I fish slower than later on with smaller plastics on lighter lines often under a float to slow down retrieve even more and get more casting distance and a set depth. They also move into the eddies in creek mouths and this time of year a running street drain right after a storm can be magic.

[Potatoe]

Thanks for the replies and help, water was still 55 today. It is getting close I think they are going to move up soon to the bank. No luck for me trying in this cold water, I think I am going to fast based on replies. Makes sense thanks again

[SKs Crappie Catching Adventures]

If you're goin out fishn shalla that just might be the culprit.... If you're in the spawning areas back out just a bit..... check out what works for me in this vid if you like...... and be sure to add some scent to your jigs, it helps a lot during this time of year......

[Ketchn]

one thing for certain they are likely within eye sight of where they want to go shallow at some point .
and to be sure in many cases the large fish don't stay shallow long …..keep that in mind
as mentioned above the body of the spawners frequently stage out a bit deeper and make short runs to the beds when everything is right for them .
3 days of sunshine and be on the beds at right before daylight ,when they quit right after sunrise back off to 10 to 15 fow
the short water spawn in the daylight is frequently short lived in most spots from what I have seen .

[Potatoe]

going to give it a try in the am if the rain will hold off, going to bring my 3 spider poles and try it slow in the area

we have sun out this afternoon

thanks for video also SK

thanks again