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Have you ever had the bite just shut off like clockwork? Do they just quit biting? Do they move? Do they go deeper? Should I change baits?
Example: today I was catching them by the dozen in one spot, then at 11:15 they stopped. Nothing. Couldn't get a nibble. I gave up and went home.
Happens all the time. Below is one of many examples:
During ice fishing season fish tend to bite mainly during the morning or evening. The reason for this rests solely on the zooplankton in the water. In the morning, the zooplankton go towards the bottom. The fish move towards the bottom and become less active. During the evening, the zooplankton rise towards the top thus the fish move up to feed on the zooplankton. This is the main reason why, when the morning bite tapers off, you fish lower in the water column. It is the reverse in the evening.
Obviously this is one example of many as to why fish will "shut off". Other factors are sunlight, water tempurature, etc... The spot you are fishing might get a certain portion of sunlight at 11:15, or tempurature change. Like I said, one example of many.
When they shut off, I go looking for other fish that are still biting. I also look for a different area where the sunlight/wind, temp might not affect the water the same as the previous spot.
Wow nice reply. Never thought of it that way. To summarize when the morning bite stops, go deeper and as the sunsets go shallower. Thanks!
If you see me launching my boat the bite is about to stop.
Crappie also relate to shade ... whether they get under something, get behind something, or simply go deeper in the water.
If the bite stops suddenly ... any number of things could have caused it : noise, movement, no fish left at that spot, you caught all those in a feeding mood, presence of a large predator, or even a passing school of baitfish pulled them away from the spot.
... cp :kewl
Got it. So what is your tactic when they stop biting?
I head home jump on the never ending honey do list.............Like I have been hard at it all day.........:biggrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Tracker22
Crappie are notorious for being always on the move and this is especially true during what I've always called "transitional periods" between seasons or during changing seasons. I can't speak to Illinois so much, but around here crappies are likely being found relatively shallow on wood or other cover or structure features in about 8 to 10 feet of water during prime times and then will tend to move deeper as the sun gets higher and (later) will return to the same areas later in the day as they were found in the morning when the sun is lower. Later in the fall, as the water continues to cool down... they will tend to go deeper and stay deeper longer... until in the dead of winter they will tend to stay pasted to the bottom in very deep water.
LOL.....the reasons for this are endless. I was able to put a camera down after the bite quit at a spot I fish and there was a crappie behind every rock....LOL. I needed 2 to get my limit that day....and I got them but it took 4 hours for them to turn back on.
Regards
I do one or more of the following :Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracker22
Move to another location where the conditions are the same or similar to what they were when the fish were biting.
Change tactics & methods & even baits ... when those same/similar conditions can't be found.
Fish for another species that's more inclined to bite under the prevailing conditions.
Use this method to try and coax a few more fish to bite: Crappie Pappy Article
They don't ALL quit biting, all over the lake, at the same time, so when the spot I'm fishing stops producing ... I consider the possible reasons & change location, tactics, and/or bait, and start hunting for them again. I also don't go looking for "obvious" spots, or community honey holes, but look for spots that may not be well known. How much time I'll devote to "searching" for them depends on how many I've already caught, or how long I've already spent on the water. Most lakes that I fish are a 1.5 to 2hr drive each way, so that can be a deciding factor in how long I stay on the hunt.
... cp :kewl
Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappiePappy
Great read...I am going to have to try that.
Regards
My take is they seldom stop biting but can be finicky. Crappie can move alot , I call them nomadic. Here they follow bait fish such as Shad. Find the feed and they are usually there. I look near cover for them even more on bright sunny days, Depth means everything and water color. I have found dingy water helps when searching shallow in spring or fall fishing as they can be spooky. I love it when folks throw in the towel here and I keep searching till I find them. Most never change location , depth , presentation, and ect, just blame the fish. You have to be willing to change or you will have many low fish or no fish days. On days where they seem to quit, try changing spots or just take notice of the weather and change depths.
How about when they never start biting :Rofl
Had a slow day yesterday, 3 dink gills and one average size largemouth (1 1-1/2 lb). Never could get the crappie bite.
ON my lake the crappie relate heavily to structure/cover. We find that they tend to move vertically moreso than horizontally. As an example. There are a few submerged trees that hold fish in the summer and in the winter. Our tactic is to run pass the tree and scan it with SI/DI to determine depth and position to the tree (inclose to the trunk or scatter out around the limbs). We then pitch baits on slip corks based onwhat we found.When the bite tapers offwe will pass over the tree again to relocate the fish and start overagain.Most of the time the fish havesimply moved deeper, but sometimes they move up as well.If you hit a spot that is loaded but you can’tget any takers no matter what you try that is a good time to drop the cameraand ID the fish.Juvenile stripers,bluegill, and gizzzies can all put off a signature that looks likecrappie.Some trips we do this all daywhen we are out hunting for new places to fish.
Brilliance!:hesaid thanks everyone. You are very helpful.