Tips for catching crappie in 87 degree water....

[P-row]

Hey everyone....my home lake has warmed up to the highest temperature that I can ever remember. We have no problem finding fish, it's just getting them to bite better that's the problem. Recent air temps in the low 90's have slowed them down big time. I'm not surprised but if you could offer one tip, what would that be? Also, lake is closed at night so that is not an option. Thanks guys!

[Chuck Adams]

Hey everyone....my home lake has warmed up to the highest temperature that I can ever remember. We have no problem finding fish, it's just getting them to bite better that's the problem. Recent air temps in the low 90's have slowed them down big time. I'm not surprised but if you could offer one tip, what would that be? Also, lake is closed at night so that is not an option. Thanks guys!

P-row
I am having the same problem but I can fish at night.
Monday the water temp was 90.5 at the lake I fished here in Indiana.
Looking forward to reading the responses.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[CrappiePappy]

Remember .... that's surface temp !! If the lake has a thermocline, then the water will be cooler at that depth. I'd look for deep wood cover that rises above the thermocline level. Otherwise, I'd be looking on deep flats & channels for a concentration of Shad in the area. The fish's metabolism will be high, though they may also be lethargic from the high water temps ... but, they'll still have to eat, so they shouldn't be all that far from any concentration of baitfish in an area. You'll likely be trying for a reaction bite in the open water scenario, but may have to "soak" your bait around the deep wood cover.

Early in the AM I'd concentrate my efforts along any bank that has shade over the water from daylight til almost midday (if that bank has downed trees &/or brushpiles in the shaded water). Once that shade is gone over the submerged cover, the fish will likely move out into open water. That's been my experience, anyway.

Other than that ... I'd look for a lake in the area that is not closed at night.

[USMA65]

That is extremely good advice Crappiepappy

[BobC]

That is extremely good advice Crappiepappy

Yes, that was a real nice tip!
Bob

[hdhntr]

Good example of sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone and try a different lake where you can fish at night. There are always ones around you.

[Ketchn]

Here , from first light about 9 am its pretty much as always with the fish in 8 to 12 foot of water . The big difference is being able to actually know for sure if its actually a bite .
Our water is quite warm and these fish will likely just touch the bait so smoothly that an average once a week or once a month angler wont even realize its a take .
A gulp brand nibble is pretty much a must or another scent product or you could even go with a minnow , its not that you cant ketch one on a bare jig , its just that your numbers will hurt significantly and the frustrations of spit it out before you can set the hook will make you crazy ...or crazier in my case
Once the sun gets up good , our fish move to deep water shade in most spots and as stated some go out and roam the open water . I don't pursue the open water fish and remain in the mode of finding fish on cover most of the time .
But to be sure the bite stays pretty darn light almost the entire time , even large black bass will take the jig so soft you may not realize its a bite . some of the slightest tiny little "bream" pecks are big fish .
I would suggest tipping your jig and setting the hook just for grins on any and everything that even ever so slightly could be misconstrued as a bite , my 27 cents if you will

[badbrad]

I’ve had very good success downsizing my bait presentation. A Bobby Garland Itty Bit on a 1/48th oz jig head rigged 1’1/2 beneath a 1/8oz pegged sinker will get me some bites from those finicky, non-active fish.

[Retired2Fish]

I managed to catch a few yesterday when surface temp got up to 87.6 degrees. All were too short or 10-10.5" did not keep any. Fish were 12-14' deep around standing timber in 20-26 fow. As said above bite was slow and very lite. Had to leave the jig in their face for awhile. Livescope helps but does not make them bite. Did not use any scents/nibbles but did tip with minnows some of the time. Good if you go!

[P-row]

Pappy an Ketchn.... thanks for your advice. I will say we have had alot of lite taps lately. I like the idea of scent, I have some slab sauce, but of course forgot to try it! �� Will do next trip for sure. Really appreciate the input....will keep you posted how things go! Hdhntr an Brad, thanks also!