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