crappie@raccoon

[Moose1am]

Did you catch them on the bottom of the lake and if so how deep were they?

I am trying to figure out if they are moving into winter time habitat at the very bottom and deepest parts of the lakes. OR are they moving into deep flats and feeding on bottom organisms.

I know they follow the shad but where are the shad and what are the shad feeding on right now when the water temperatures at the surface of the lake are in the 40's.

I am grounded fishing at my regular lake right now due to water fowl hunting season. I can't fish cold water at my favorite pit until the end of Jan next year.

Are you fishing the deep 1/3 of that resevoir? The area closest to the **** usually is the deepest part of the reservoir. The mid 1/3 of most flatland reservoirs is the widest and most varied in depths, while the upper 1/3 had the most nutrients and the shallower waters.

I am curious if the Critical Concepts Crappie Fundamentals Book by In-Fisherman is predicting what and where we are catching fish this time of the year.

But there are many other factors that effect the fishing. Each lake is different and at different latitudes. Weather patterns change daily. Winds blow from different directions. Each part of a lake has some different micro environments etc. Trying to piece all the parts together is difficult.

So what was the pattern you saw that helped you catch fish?

I doubt if you will have many other's fishing and competing with you at this time of the year. LOL. That's the best part of fishing in the winter months. But the bad part is that if you get into trouble there won't be a lot of people around to help you out. So stay safe out there.

I'll understand if you don't want to answer the questions, but it doesn't hurt to ask. I believe in helping others learn to catch more fish. But not giving out UTM map coordinates! I don't go that far unless they want to trade secrete spots with me! LOL

[markh60]

fished the shallow end,with lay downs in 10-15ft. of water.used 1/16oz. minnie tube,warmer water was the key.fished the deeper end not to prevail,water temp was 36-38 degrees at that end of the lake.

[Moose1am]

Thanks for that tip. I guess the warm weather we had this late Dec warmed that shallow water back up again. It's not yet time for the Winter patterns maybe. It's going to have to get really cold and stay cold for the crappie to seek the bottom of the lakes. When the water gets below 4 deg C the bottom of the lake will have the warmer water. Water colder than 4 deg C is less dense than water at 4 deg C. And water hotter than 4 deg C is less dense than water at 4 deg C. Nature sure is wonderful in this regard. I'll bet that the fish thing this is cool also. :)

We hardly ever get hard water down here in the Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey and Gibson Counties. Once in a blue moon it gets cold enough to freeze the shallow lakes down here to an ice thickness of 4" or more. But lately it's been getting warmer than usual. We are just now getting a cold spell down here and we might get some snow for Christmas Day.