Winter crappies will be found around submerged trees or brush
Winter brings a steady drop in water temperature and slows the metabolism of crappies. At this time crappies will work their way into deeper water and become less active in chasing food. No matter the temperature, crappies prefer to school around structures such as submerged trees and brush. In winter they will continue to stay around structure but in deep water anywhere from 15 feet deep to the bottom, depending on the reservoir's depth. Fishing jigs and live bait from a boat in these areas will produce crappies.
Instructions
1. Locate dead trees or brush sticking up out of the water. Stop the boat amongst the structure or alongside of it. Let the boat sit freely on the water; anchor it if the wind is pushing the boat around too much.
2. Tie on a crappie jig in a light color such as white or yellow with some red or florescent pink on it. Lower the jig straight down from the side of the boat. Retrieve the jig by pulling it up six to 12 inches and letting it drop back down. Reel in that amount of line and repeat the pulling, dropping, and reeling pattern until the jig has been completely reeled in.
3. Fish the jig in this manner moving throughout the structure. Lower the jig into different depths going deeper or shallower until you find what depth the crappies are hanging at. When a crappie is caught, continue to fish that spot as there will be more crappies in the school.
4. Move the boat along shorelines where there is no submerged structure and fish the bank where it drops off into deep water. Cast jigs from the boat toward the shore and reel them back in by jerking the jig toward you and letting it bounce off the bottom following the dropping contour of the bank.
5. Hook up for live bait by tying on a bait hook and enough lead sinkers to keep the bait down at the desired depth. Use a live minnow or wax worm for bait and let it remain in the water until a crappie picks it up. Move to different areas and experiment with different depths until the crappies are located.
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