Another Mega school

[Capt Cormorant]

Thanks for sharing the temp and depth of the fish. I'm still learning the winter patterns. I happen to be the exact same water temp as you. Yesterday I found a nursery of crappy in 35fow. Nothing but 4 to 7 inch fish. Then found 13 inch plus in 20fow. It took 1.5 days to find those 2 two schools. I didnt see any structure on your graph. Were the fish roaming or stationary?

[castingcole]

jeez that's a lot of crappie. those are some nice looking fish my man. How deep is that?

[EWcrappie]

Thanks for sharing the temp and depth of the fish. I'm still learning the winter patterns. I happen to be the exact same water temp as you. Yesterday I found a nursery of crappy in 35fow. Nothing but 4 to 7 inch fish. Then found 13 inch plus in 20fow. It took 1.5 days to find those 2 two schools. I didnt see any structure on your graph. Were the fish roaming or stationary?

On this day they were up on a big flat and not moving too much. Most of the time they are out over 70 foot of water and really cruising around and I have to follow them. The bigger ones seem to cruise all winter but the smaller ones will hunker down on the bottom in 40 foot or so. Sometimes I find them right away, and sometimes it takes me a few hours to find them. Seems they are always moving but I won't fish until I find them. I use side scan out to 80 feet and down scan down to 50 so I can cover a lot of water. They aren't in any cover this time of year. Open water next to or on flats. Keep looking and learning it has taken me years to figure out their patterns. Frustrating at times but worth it.

[skeetbum]

Ya, it was a fun day. Released 50 or so. Once they can't make it back down, I will be done for the crappie season and switch to perch.

Not that perch are bad but if you learn to fizz those fish the majority of them can go back home.

[EWcrappie]

Not that perch are bad but if you learn to fizz those fish the majority of them can go back home.

Yes, I have fizzed them and they go back down but do they live. No one really knows that and I don't want to take a chance with not knowing.

[Central Minn]

Attachment 389299
25 to 30. Most go back down. I can watch them on my 2D sonar.

Your 2d shot looks like mine only when we are ice fishing...About a 1/2 hour before sunset when the Sunfish show up, fun times!