Thread: panfishing is hard in winter..

They are quite a bit harder to catch when the water is cold, at least for me. The folks up north seem to be able to catch them through the ice though. I've caught them on small 1/64th jigs throughout the winter reeling very slowly close to the bottom, particularly if you can find some logs in water 10 - 20 feet deep. I've never tried it, but if you have any rip rap that drops into deeper water quickly it seems like they'd probably be there and accessible from shore. You might need to use a tiny jig under a slip float to keep from hanging up all the time, and I'll bet tipping the jig with a wax worm or maggot would probably help a lot. I have occasionally caught some bream in shallow water reeling a jig very slowly under a bobber for crappie in the winter, but never in any numbers. My best luck has been in a boat out near the mouth of small coves down on the bottom in 15 - 20 feet of water. But I live in the northern part of the state, it may very well be an entirely different game farther south.

If you are in a boat bluegill can be caught in huge numbers in the winter. They stack up by the thousands below dams on the TN River. Finding them from the bank can be a different story but usually if you can find one you’re going to catch a lot of them.

Regards


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Originally Posted by Cricketcage

They are quite a bit harder to catch when the water is cold, at least for me. The folks up north seem to be able to catch them through the ice though. I've caught them on small 1/64th jigs throughout the winter reeling very slowly close to the bottom, particularly if you can find some logs in water 10 - 20 feet deep. I've never tried it, but if you have any rip rap that drops into deeper water quickly it seems like they'd probably be there and accessible from shore. You might need to use a tiny jig under a slip float to keep from hanging up all the time, and I'll bet tipping the jig with a wax worm or maggot would probably help a lot. I have occasionally caught some bream in shallow water reeling a jig very slowly under a bobber for crappie in the winter, but never in any numbers. My best luck has been in a boat out near the mouth of small coves down on the bottom in 15 - 20 feet of water. But I live in the northern part of the state, it may very well be an entirely different game farther south.

thats what i was using a float with a small shad jig that i use for crappie big enough for decent sized bg to hit as well can only get it out about 20 meters though think i need to tightline fish for them right now it sucks cause i really need to get some cut bait for my catfish run soon and cant seem to catch any

One word -------------------------------------------DEEP !

Originally Posted by matt1991

man i can always find bluegill/ect near the shore near logs stumps or fallen trees but in winter they are now here to be found sadly inever really fish in winter but lately iv been out 3 times with small crappie jigs trying t catch a few of both and cant even as much as see a bluegill i live in msisisippi im guessing they are way out in the deep on the bottom

in a big lake form the bank am i wasting my time trying to catch them?

I see you’re in the Deep South but that shouldn’t stop the panfish bite shallow this time of year. I’m in PA and fishing the ice. We’re in 8 ft water, less than 50 ft from shore, and the bite is phenomenal. Mostly yellow perch but the crappies and bluegills are mixed in with them. You need brush to keep them in the area. I’m using a 5mm tungsten jig under a slip bobber, tipping with a wax worm, about two foot off bottom and having a blast. If you have an area close enough to shore to cast too, give it a try this way.

Gonna be some good eatin' at Chaunc's house

you lucky dog iv always wanted t catch yp they dont live here apparently they n walleye taste the best of any fish also beautiful black crappie we mostly have white crappie here they are big but not as cool looking to me