Wintertime bank fishing for crappie.

[Jackson87]

Hey guys.Most days that I can fish my brother or my friends cannot.So Im looking for somewhere to crappie fish this winter off the bank.The main lakes I fish are Cowan and Ceasar but there not really deep enough near the bank.Thinking about trying Rocky Fork.Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[INTIMIDATOR]

In the Winter, Crappie are located in the warmest water in the lake...if warm Springs aren't available, they are in the deepest water. Normally in a frozen Lake the water at depths can still be 38 degrees. Crappie start losing swimming ability in water under 38, so they will suspend. To stay alive they have keen eyesight which allows the to live off of zooplankton which requires little effort to hunt.
If you can find Springs, warm water discharges, old creek beds, sunny rip rap, or something else that may be a couple degrees warmer than the rest of the water, your chances from the bank will improve.

[Jackson87]

Thanks for the info Intimidator.Im searching lake maps to find where the deep creek channels come close to the bank.Im gonna do some adventuring and see if I have any luck.All suggestions are appreciated.


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[243RICK]

I've seen many winter fishing from the boat docks on the east side of Rocky Fork near the abandoned restaurant.

There is deep water near those docks.

[Jackson87]

That's exactly where I went today.I jigged around the metal columns that hold the docks in place.Tried a few colors of Bobby garland baby Shad and a black/chart tub jig that I snagged from underwater.Not a bite.Not sure what I'm doing wrong.


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[243RICK]

Don't get discouraged. We saw folks fishing there 3 days this week. The bite slowed way down for us yesterday.

[INTIMIDATOR]

We have entered the Winter Pattern for Crappie....you might as well just ice fish from the docks. When the water gets this cold my buddies just ice fish from docks etc. Small poles lures etc.

[Jackson87]

Yeah I seen 2 guys there that looked like they were using a ice fishing sonar.They Caught a few crappie.Im gonna try to modify my boat so I can fish solo out of it.


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[CrappieCrazed]

We have entered the Winter Pattern for Crappie....you might as well just ice fish from the docks. When the water gets this cold my buddies just ice fish from docks etc. Small poles lures etc.

Intimidator, hate to be that guy, but we catch crappie a foot deep in 39-40 degree water with ice visible along the banks all the time. Not sure how far north you are?? I do believe it has a lot to do with what fishery you are fishing. I have one lake near me that fishes terrible after water temps hit 45 degrees (they go straight to the bottom) but honestly most lakes we have around here, including ohio river Tribs, crappie can be caught 1-2ft deep in water temps around 38-40 no problem. No need waiting for ice to fish in my (his) neck of the woods. Im on the water 3-4 days a week from december 1st to march 1st on my boat (as long as water is soft enough to put boat in) and youd be lucky to ever find me fishing more than 8ft deep.

Jackson87 As far as Rockey fork goes, i fish it by boat and fish brush found with side imaging so i probably cannot help you but there is a reason those docks you fished are occupied all winter long lined with fisherman.. Lets face it, some winters such as last year we hardly had any ice on any lakes around here.

[CrappieCrazed]

Jackson87 where abouts do you live?