Where do crappie go in the winter?

[GreenEYESfromOHIO]

I watch these YouTube videos of people in boats showing how crappie seek out very deep water during winter months with their fish finder and they are indeed on the screen and catching them. Then I also watch videos of guys fishing for crappie from the bank during winter and they catch them just fine as well in water 10ft or less. It has me confused where they actually go….anyone have an explanation on this?

I also hear/read to fish with a slow presentation during winter months because the fish are lethargic and not very active, yet I see crappie videos using underspins and curly tails in winter and they catch them just fine. Anyone?

Richard Gene just made a video about winter fishing from the bank with a lot of the examples I mention above…. https://youtu.be/FhkC8hcKt48

[shipahoy41]

To me, I just fish a little deeper water. They are still in the lake. I try and cast to deep bridge pilings and deep docks I can reach from the shore line. In winter hair or feather jigs with Slab Sauce will catch you some crappie. Soft plastics to me work better in warmer weather.

Mike

[TBass89]

It will be interesting to see how this is answered. I know for me I have watched a lot of Richard Gene and my way of thinking in fishing has changed tremendously.

Personally speaking this year I have fished in way’s similar to Richard Gene and it has produced a lot of success for me that includes fishing shallow water even in the cold months. Something else I have started to pay attention to is the solar lunar bait chart and have fished on high predicted bait movement days. I have seen firsthand the benefit of looking into this chart with 90% of my successful days being on high prediction days all based off of moon phase. There is a really good post in the archive section of this website by drumking titled moon phase vs fish activity it touches on this topic more.

I say all of this to say I check the lunar chart for bait activity over water depth and outside temperature just my opinion and there are a lot of wiser fisherman on this site that I’m sure will have some good info on this.


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[Locator79]

They CAN be deep. Especially in clear water or deep natural lakes. But I catch fish 10’ or less year round. 80 deg or 30 deg water


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[silverside]

Same thing sometimes happen in the summer. 1 boat finds fish in 10 ft and another boat finds them in 25 fow. What is the deciding factor in who goes where. Oxygen, food, to create turmoil with fishermen and laugh about it?

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[keeferfish]

Where do crappie go in the winter?

To Florida to Tan! You seen Slab's post!.

Normally in the winter for us not over 15 foot deep but in 20 to 25 fow and as shallow at 2 or 3 foot deep with 41 degree water just a week ago.

I like to hold it as still as possible with very slight upward movement from time to time.

[NIMROD]

Depends on water body , weather and depth as well as clarity . No set rule on one don't fit all .

[Grainraiser]

Im in Texas so or winters are not as bad as our northern brothers. I can catch them on bridge pilings at 15ft deep or I can go up the creeks and catch them in 5ft of water. In both cases our crappie follow the shad. Creek water is warmer than the mid-lake so the shad either go deeper or they head for the creeks and the crappie follow them. Follow the pattern of your forage fish during the winter and you will find the crappie hot on their heels.

[MackB]

Nice short article explaining the thermacline; explanation for searching for fish and understanding fish depths. LeBlanc: The Thermocline in lake water | Lake Conroe Texas

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