COLD WATER CRAPPIE ACTION

Early spring is a good time to get rid of those winter blues with some fishing action. Crappie fishing will really puts some fillets on the table.

Of the two species of crappie, black crappie and white crappie, the white prefers the larger more open water. But, both species will suspend in relation to the points, sunken islands, bars, creek beds and debris. Both species can and do inhabit the same waters.

Early on the fish are feeding constantly. They feed up for the spawn. Then when it starts warming the fish will move to colder parts of the water. They are somewhat lethargic and are tougher to catch.

Both species have roughly the same spawning habits, laying eggs in water 3 to 8 feet in depth, once temperatures near the mid-sixty degree range near cover. Whites tend to like brush piles, bushes, or sunken logs. The blacks like reeds or other weeds. There can be a great deal of pre spawn angling in main lake channels and bays due to warming water.

Deep creek channels are the key to cold water crappie locations. One can begin by searching for likely summer holding areas and then back tracking to the nearest deep creek channel. Then follow the channel to the best available holding area. At times this can be a considerable distance. Some areas are more promising than others. Ones with wood in or near the deep water are best. Rock and sunken brush or weeds are excellent. Even stumps will do the trick. The more dense wood will have the best chance of holding crappie.

If the bays or creek channels do not seem to have any wood available either visible or hidden beneath the surface try submerged points, bends and intersections. A good topo map will help here. Dark bottoms can be good source of fish. They get the early sun and hold warmth from the sun. Channels that dead end minimize current flow that draws off warm water.

Good bays should have no channels, or at least not adequate ones. If all else fails try the deep water and fish deep. Follow an old creek channel and pull up on deep stumps. There are many anglers who catch crappie out in 20 to 20 foot of water all year around.

Jigs are the bread and butter of crappie lures. A good assortment of leadhead jigs, in 1/16 to 1/64th ounce, in crappie colors of white, black and yellow are a basic. Some of us are confirmed fishers of artificial lures and prefer red hooks on our lures. Black/chartreuse to watermelon/chartreuse, red/chartreuse and June bug/chartreuse are popular colors for lures. We cast them around trees and shallow grass. You then reel back the lure very slowly. The idea is to stay in contact with the cover at all times.

Try to stay over the top of weeds. Many like to use 1/8th ounce jigs but they tend to reel a little faster. That is where many people go wrong because crappie will not go down to get bait. They are always looking up so you must keep the bait above them.
For those who prefer natural baits the basic is minnows or wax worms.

Fishing for crappie in the warming water of spring can be very productive. It is also a time to unlimber that old casting arm and get rid of the winter blues.

                                                          Don Gasaway – The Ground Pounder
                                                          http://www.dongasaway.wordpress.com/