CRAPPY'S....

[northrn-duck-assassin]

question for u hardcore crappie guys. i dont crappie fish much but there is a lake i fish at ice out for crappie in a boat slip. if they are there at ice out u think they are hangin there all ice season or move in at ice out? there is a ten foot flat at the entrance of the slip. could they be stagging there? once ice is good to go again im gonna drill-n-pound just would like to know a better chance of starting at.

[bret]

In the natural lakes around here...when the ice is on, I would say they are hanging out in deeper water (outside the slip).  As late ice and ice out approaches...they will migrate to the shallower bays/channels to feed and prepare to spawn.

But I've seen crappies in channels during ice as long as there is food and oxygen.

[northrn-duck-assassin]

okay im gonna have to try it out anyways. i have caught em in a slip on a lake in n.e. indiana a few years back through the ice. nothin to write home about but it was a fun time none the less.

[blueultra2]

Most crappies that I catch are no deeper than 7-8' deep. I've never caught them deep. Most are schooling in the upper half of the water column.

[first sergeant]

well i have a better question ;  i can catch some limits of crappie on one of my local lakes all spring long, but i can not find them at all through the ice  and i have searched all over for the last three years   so now what?

[High Tide]

I can tell you one thing... There are way to many variables to consider such as: are they white or black crappie, does the lake have shad, is the water stained or clear, is it a natural lake or reservoir, are there weeds beds, how many deep basins, I could go on and all make a difference when finding crappie this time of year. It all revolves around food source, temperature and oxygen, both are very different depending on BOW.

[rico]

I can tell you one thing... There are way to many variables to consider such as: are they white or black crappie, does the lake have shad, is the water stained or clear, is it a natural lake or reservoir, are there weeds beds, how many deep basins, I could go on and all make a difference when finding crappie this time of year. It all revolves around food source, temperature and oxygen, both are very different depending on BOW.

Good stuff.  I know here on my small BOW which has an abundance of food I spend alot of time chasing them around.  I have never been able to figure them out through the ice here. 

[river_scum]

you are just gona have to search it out man. go out to the drop off in front of the slip, drop a light at night and see if they are there. if there are schools swimming in the area, they should gather around you.  minnows "dead sticked" around the light should get bit, if they are in the mood.

[bret]

I've caught crappie in 10 fow or less early ice...up near good weeds and food.  But later as the ice cover kills the weeds the crappie and gills will move deeper.  Like High Tide said there are a lot of variables affecting where they will be located.

Caught these Christmas eve from the boat...(I posted a thread)...I'm guessing I caught at least 50.  I kept 10 to eat....10-13 inches.  I was fishing 20 to 35 fow.  These fish were out off the steeper breaks and some were in the 25' flat areas of the bays they will spawn in. They were on the bottom, just off the bottom and suspended 10 or more feet off the bottom!  All fish were caught on #5 jiggin rap...no bait.

[first sergeant]

well bret we still have not been able to to fish yet maybe you can come show me how its done,  as far all the variables (yes it has weeds and yes it is stained and the deepest spot is about 25ft  again i say i have searched this bow for 3yrs.  to no avail i obviously know they are there but I cant even get a look at them with camera  but i did find some very nice perch in there 

[PoleCat]

nice looking mess of silver slabs.

[dawgfish]

I'd agree on variation.  New to the crappie game.  Only caught good numbers on a handful of occasions and with a die hard slabber's help.  Through the ice caught less than on one hand in the same spots.  Fish a small lesser ice fished lake in Tri County that at thick ice holds LARGE gills but right on the bottom in probably 20 FOW and the crappie I catch in spring seem to vanish

[rico]

I'd agree on variation.  New to the crappie game.  Only caught good numbers on a handful of occasions and with a die hard slabber's help.  Through the ice caught less than on one hand in the same spots.  Fish a small lesser ice fished lake in Tri County that at thick ice holds LARGE gills but right on the bottom in probably 20 FOW and the crappie I catch in spring seem to vanish

I understand exactly what you are saying.  I can do know wrong in open water, but struggle to find them on the hard.