Thread: Where do they go?

I assume you are talking fall/winter fishing, so here is the knowledge I can offer. As the water cools from summer temps, fish start to return to the feeder creeks. 60 degrees and lower you will find anywhere from the mouth to the back of creeks tight to standing timber. Smaller fish tend to school in large numbers while larger fish tend to be alone. I fish anywhere between 4 and 20 FOW, 4 to 15 foot down. Really just depends on the pattern and current weather conditions. Minnows and jigs will both produce. When I fish this sort of pattern, I focus on individual fish. Livescope, or comparable, is not required, but definitely makes targetting individual fish easier. I fished for a few seasons with good success without livescope.

The fish will only become more active and likely to chase as the water cools. That being said, once the water cools to 45 degrees or so, that's when I really focus on getting below the thermocline and I like to spider rig. I fish 15+ feet deep in creek channels and on bluffs. I usually only use jigs since I don't like wet hands when the air temp is cold. I fish bluffs first and if they don't produce, I will return to the creeks in search of fish. I will only stop and put all of my gear out once fish start lighting up on my down imaging. Again, I'll put my rods out and run double jig rigs pushed around .5-.7mph. Sometimes faster, sometimes slower. I fish this way until the spring feed picks up and you can find fish beginning to stack shallower in creek channels again, usually around the first of April. For this type of fishing, you definitely don't need livescope or similar. I have it on, but only for depth and to look ahead for trees I don't want to get tangled in.

Short answer to your question, if you aren't finding them on bluffs, I recommend heading to the back of a feeder creek. Jig every stickup you can find. You will very likely get into some fish.

Sorry for the confusion. I am talking right now. They are 27-28’ deep. They move around out to 35’ then sometime in December or January both the crappie and the shad disappear.

tyfoford - when you say "Feeder Creek," if I'm understanding this. We are talking about the natural creek beds that existed prior to flooding are marked on Navionics mapping?

Yes! Those are them. I would focus on each of those, starting on the blue dotted line and then moving to the shoreline until you find them. I primarily fish the grand arm and I've been doing really well lately in the creeks and expect the pattern will stay consistent for a few more weeks at least. The water temp is dropping fast, so spider rigging is just around the corner.

Dayne,

The deepest I ever fish is about 20', even in the dead of winter. I may not be much help on bluff fish. I still think you would find them in the winter on the pattern you describe, but you may be in a part of the lake I am unfamiliar with.

Originally Posted by tyfoford

Yes! Those are them. I would focus on each of those, starting on the blue dotted line and then moving to the shoreline until you find them. I primarily fish the grand arm and I've been doing really well lately in the creeks and expect the pattern will stay consistent for a few more weeks at least. The water temp is dropping fast, so spider rigging is just around the corner.

Thank you for your response. I like gathering data and comparing it to input from others. It makes it easier to wrap my brain around it, once I have it.