Some of the fish done went winter mode

I travel around the local areas a bit in search of crappie , mostly off the bank these days but hope to get a boat with a motor soon. Time these days to get after them seems so limited though and even though I might hit 4 lakes in 24 hours I rarely stay long . This said I typically go back to spots that have had a recent bite . I don't know water temperatures via a graph in most cases but can tell when I touch the jig or the fish when the water is cold . I have noticed really cold fish in a lot of spots lately and have found quite few in full blown winter mode . So in order to stay on the crappie I rely on several things , friends who might have found them , scouting on my own and of course returning to winter haunts in hopes they might be there .
I have found several spots where the fish are in full winter mode in the last week or so, they are in fair numbers so far and the I would imagine its going to get better .what drives the fish in different locations to do things so differently is something that sometimes boggles the mind , but to be sure a large bag of tricks will keep you in hook set mode .
some of you may have already realized how much I love to ketch crappie under a float and some may also know how much I love my little 6 foot Tica . the action of this particular rod is unsurpassed in my opinion for short fixed float casting and fighting with crappie and when they are under 3 foot deep with a float I cant get enough of the hook sets and fights that ensue .
so I went back to a spot I have found them on many many occasions once the water gets cold and had a blast blasting them for a second time in the last week . word will get out I am sure at some point and that spot packs with anglers in the winter months , but as of now I am the only one visiting best I can tell .
18 inches under a float is how they want it water depths ranging from about 3 foot to about 6 foot deep . small presentation on bait right now as the large bait isn't there yet and little flickers and movement get slammed .
sure is a fun lunch break , all fish released and done the road I go ...
stay tuned but don't stay thirsty yawl :cheers2

Nice!


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Good looking catch..Thanks for posting. BTW which Tica rod do you use?

Like the way you tell the story, nice looking catch��

Nice fish and good report.

Great job Ketchn! All I've got to say is, there ain't a Crappie safe in Texas, with y'all around! :biggrin

Good job! I haven’t been out in almost two weeks, so when I do go it will be hunting em up again!

think I am going to be like my hero Ketchn and go float fishing today. wtg Outlaw and keep on getting it done.

Nice catch and excellent post

Nice fish! Out of curiosity, do you have an idea what the water surface temperature was? I have a feeling cold water in texas might mean something different than it does in central Iowa. I've been having trouble locating the crappie lately.

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Originally Posted by eatnlunch

Nice fish! Out of curiosity, do you have an idea what the water surface temperature was? I have a feeling cold water in texas might mean something different than it does in central Iowa. I've been having trouble locating the crappie lately.

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It was 61-63 in the Panhandle early last week. We've had another cold spell since then, so I'm guessing around 58ish now. I will know tomorrow. Don't know for sure where ketchn is at but I'm sure it's a good ways SE of me....my guess is low to mid 60s?

Thanks. Yeah, we're well below that up here. Surface temps in the 40s. I need to really start working the electronics, try to find some deeper structure. This is only my second fall season on this lake, lots of exploring to do.

Nice catch

The Tica is an old discontinued model , i am not sure what model ,the water temp is likely close to 60 give or take ....
And today they were ridiculous heavy in there btw ...Kaboom

Crappie here have been on a 3 year hiatus. The count goes on.

Great report. A lot of good stuff. If we get cold water here in pa, we usually get ice. I hope we have ice this year. I love to go ice fishing.

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I don’t have a lot of money but I darn well would contribute to buying Ketchn a boat and motor. Actually, a lot of good my boat is as I can’t buy a crappie as I hover over my brushpiles. Have to rely on Ketchn to even know where to look.


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lookee here brother , I don't know lake Austin but to be sure those fish are probably stacking up in it somewhere , let me research the lake online and I will try to figure them out via the internet . no worries on getting a boat , I just have to have time to get the old ss minnow out of my yard before I am allowed to get another boat ,,,,LOL

Any insight is appreciated. A guide buddy of mine says they are at the mouths of coves chasing shad balls as well as in the entrances to coves. Says just use side scan to locate these stacks of fish. I have a Helix 10 that shows lots of detail but still learning how to translate that to actual fish. Thx, Ketchn. You are the best fishing buddy I could have except for my brother.


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Wow! Nice crappie. With this weather changing from day to day and to hot and cold. I don't know how to dress from day to day where are not to put on a coat or short sleeves. I can imagine the fish are have the same trouble where to go into winter mode or summer mode.

Nice post. Thanks for sharing.