Tips for finding winter time fish , deep open water ?

[mozingo1952]

When the fish leave my brushpiles , my success rate falls

Other than spend more time on the water, How do I find the fish in open water?

Some times I find fish on deeper ledges 28-30 ft. But it is really hit and miss.

I see lots of boats that sit out in 35-40 ft and never seem to move , but I don't see them
catch many either.

I appreciate any advice.

MO

[SuperDave336]

Do you have livescope?

[DockShootinJack]

Electronics work well for scouting fish

[Rojo]

I see the same type of Anglers on Ross Barnett. There will be boats out for a hour or two sitting on the ledges but I never see them catch anything. They kinda just appear and disappear, I have never figured out the pattern they are working on. I fish deep wood structure only, it works for me.

[skeeter96]

We catch them on the river channel edge in open water. We fish off the points where the flat is about 20' and the Chanel is about 30'. Scanning with 2D/DI and SI is the best way to find the big schools. Once we find them then spot lock and vertical jig dropping to the bottom and start a very very slow lift. A lot of time all you fill is the rod get heavy.
This is actually a school of wipers that was feeding on smaller crappie.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[Ketchn]

this time of year they sit flat on the bottom under the big bridge out there sometimes, might not be able to see many , but boy howdy years back we would just hammer under that entire bridge along with 100 other boats on those columns.....just saying

[mozingo1952]

this time of year they sit flat on the bottom under the big bridge out there sometimes, might not be able to see many , but boy howdy years back we would just hammer under that entire bridge along with 100 other boats on those columns.....just saying

My boat dock is about 6 miles from the big bridge, I have not fished it in years, Too loud , too many people , it is always more cold and windy
under the bridge. But yes , it does hold fish. When I first started fishing here , that was about the only place I could catch fish consistantly.


Yes I have livescope, and side imaging, I have seen pictures of open water schools of crappie , just not on my machine.

thanks for the replys

MO

[keeferfish]

We can find them but tons and tons of dinks. The big fish are nowhere to be found.

Over brush, multiple fish (schools) on single trees and around bridge pillars. Schools and Schools of crappie but Dinks.

Also yesterday surface water temp at 42 to 43 and fish will be from 5ft to 15ft deep.

[Bricks]

I use my Hbrid Mega SI to find open water schools it may take a couple of hours scanning the lake looking for schools, then zero in with Mega Live. I set up my SI different then most I don`t care about a pretty picture or what is on the bottom I am looking for fish. My scroll speed will be way faster then boat speed as this will elongate the fish making them and there shadow much easier to see.

[Grainraiser]

In my neck of the woods you will either find them deep under bridge columns or they will chase the shad up in the creeks. I prefer fishing the creeks this time of year because I don't have to fight the wind. I use my sidescan to find them and livescope to stay on them. Find the creek that feeds into your lake and you will find the crappie. Shad can't survive cold water so they go up the creeks and the crappie follow them.