Thread: TRUMAN: Why are the fish so shallow???

I am not a biologist but I would say the crappie are where the bait fish are.

jigin4abigun

Doesn't it seem to hot for the baitfish to be that shallow? Are the crappie not generally deeper this time of year or am I just dreaming?

I dont know about Truman, but at Smithville I always fish shallow in the hot summer. I never fish over 16 fow. Tree lines and stumps are best in under 10 fow.

jigin4abigun

I may be way off base but here's what I think. The algae blooms in shallower water. The bait fish go shallow to eat. The crappie hang in deeper water near where the algae is blooming and run up shallow to feed on the bait fish then return to the cooler, deeper water. I'm no biologist but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express one time.

FOOD, and maybe oxygen?

i read many of article's on this, and crappie chatt showed me first hand it could be done! but can't seem to remember why they are, but they are

Originally Posted by Speck

I'm no biologist but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express one time.

RoflRoflRoflRoflRofl

I've got a degree in biology but not much of it was done on the species of fish but plenty of studies were done on biospheres and aquifers. When I swim in Truman it doesn't seem to have a good thermal cline to it so maybe since it's hot everywhere they're roving shallow for food or perhaps there some extra shade up by the banks. As far as science goes unless there is some weeds giving out oxygen then O2 wouldn't be the case. Decomposing leaves and other debris give off methane when they decompose not oxygen so I would venture a guess that their hot and there brains are cooked or there is food there ala crayfish or minnows. I've never personally fished shallow for crappie in the summer at truman but I'm sure gonna give it try.