| I suggest you have a good knowledge of the | | | | with extensions and a cordless drill to have |
| waters you are fishing. If you are looking a | | | | a quick method to test the depth it leaves |
| body of water the simple answer is to look at | | | | the ice in good condition if you don't like |
| where you caught them in the spring. | | | | the spot. After you got a test hole you can |
| Reservoirs that have many coves off of the | | | | quickly drop a temperature probe down and |
| main channel seem to be popular spots. Chose | | | | look for warm waters. |
| lakes that have deep areas where the fish | | | | |
| rest but have shallow areas with active plant | | | | Warm waters are good to find because this is |
| life all year round. | | | | where the fish will want to hang out. Also |
| | | | warmer waters mean that the fish will be more |
| Crappies are going to look for bait fish and | | | | active. Granted these waters are still cold |
| those bait fish are going to be found eating | | | | so they are not going to be really active. |
| what they eat - plants. I know its winter, | | | | Good news though these fish are still hungry. |
| but as long as the water holds nutrients and | | | | But remember that everything is going to be |
| there is some light plant life will continue | | | | moving slow down there, bait fish included so |
| to grow and this is where the crappie will be | | | | avoid quick movements. |
| looking for food. The ice that has the | | | | |
| thinnest layer of snow will let the most | | | | Finding the right spot still can be hard to |
| light through and this is where the plant | | | | locate. Here is a trick I learned a while |
| life will be found. Don't forget that when | | | | ago, although you might get a good beating |
| the light shines through the ice it melts | | | | for it, I show up early and look at previous |
| from the underneath and will be deceptive on | | | | holes. You can tell how successful a hole |
| how thick it is. Compare these areas to the | | | | was by how the snow and ice is arranged |
| known ledges of the lake and fish the areas | | | | around it. Crappie will tend to roam around |
| where there are ledges with plant life and | | | | the lake some so don't drill where other |
| fish right on the shadow edges and right at | | | | holes were but follow a line that may be |
| the entrance to the plant life. | | | | evident. Remember to stick to the ledges in |
| | | | the water structure or edges of plant |
| Now that you know where to put your holes, | | | | patches. |
| Let us cover a couple other things depth | | | | |
| finders, temperature gauges and even cameras. | | | | One area I found successful year after year |
| There are many depth finders out there you | | | | was a cove that had shallow waters that |
| can find some that need to be in the water | | | | gradually sloped to a depth of 18 to 20 feet |
| and some that will slide along the ice and | | | | in the center. This is where we always sunk |
| these all range in price just as their | | | | a few bales of hay or Christmas trees every |
| functionality does. Some of the lower priced | | | | fall. The plant life seemed to cut off at |
| depth finders need their sensors submersed in | | | | about 6 feet of water. This was a great spot |
| water so drill small holes and test the | | | | for crappie throughout the year. |
| depth. I've used large wood auger type bits | | | | |