| Finding and catching crappie consistently is to | | | | typically between 1/32 oz. and a 1/16 oz.. |
| understand their seasonal movements. | | | | On windy days or in very deep water a 1/8 to even |
| The key to finding crappie consistently is to | | | | a 1/4 oz. jig may be necessary to keep in contact |
| understand their seasonal movements. Early spring | | | | with your jig. This time of year, the bites will be very |
| when the water begins to warm crappie will migrate | | | | subtle. It is important to fish very slowly. |
| from their wintertime holding areas in deep water to | | | | Another good place to find early season crappie |
| the shallows preparing for the spawn. | | | | holding is south facing steep rock walls at the north |
| This migration may last from a few days to as much | | | | end of the lake. The sun will heat the rock face and |
| as several weeks depending on the body of water | | | | will retain heat longer. |
| and the weather conditions. In early spring shortly | | | | Steep rock walls will allow the crappie to move up |
| after ice out, the crappie will begin to move from | | | | and down vertically in the water column to find their |
| their main lake winter holding areas to the back of | | | | comfort level in unstable weather, which is common |
| the coves. | | | | in the springtime. This can also be a good place to |
| During the early part of their migration, you will find | | | | find crappie in the winter months on bright sunny |
| crappie holding on the ends of the main lake points | | | | days. |
| suspended on cover such as brush piles, rock piles, or | | | | Fish these areas by vertically jigging and varying the |
| standing timber. | | | | depth until you locate how deep the Crappie are |
| A good strategy to catch these fish is to start at | | | | holding. Once you locate the depth the crappie are |
| the ends of the main lake points at the mouths of | | | | holding, you can repeat this pattern on similar areas |
| the spawning coves. Systematically work your way | | | | of the lake as long as the conditions remain stable. In |
| back into the cove. Use your electronics to locate | | | | unstable weather, you may need to vary the depth |
| the cover and vertical jig with the smallest size jig | | | | you are fishing, as the crappie will change the depth |
| the wind and depth will allow you to use. Which is | | | | they are holding as the conditions change. |