Cold Weather Crappie

[rsimms]

In recent years the Winter Crappie Bite on Chickamauga lake seems to be getting better and better. Last year December was incredible. But with water temps now approaching 60 degrees, it's about that time again.

I fished Saturday and Sunday... but horrible wind wiped out hope for crappie on Saturday so we went after cats. They didn't disappoint.

More manageable winds on Sunday. Me and Billy Bouymaster whacked a few slabs.

Fishing experience definitely helps when Winter Crappie fishing (on Chickamauga anyway). It is super finesse fishing... 1/32nd oz. jigs usually in 20 or 25 feet of water. It's important to be able to cast light jigs good distances, have the patience to let them get down where they need to be, "finesse 'em" back to the boat and detect very light strikes. But master that and it's easy. :grin:

We caught a lot of short fish Sunday. At least half, probably more, were 9-inch throwbacks. But Billy took home 16 solid slabs, plus several spotted bass.

Life is good and gettin' better every day!

SATURDAY CAT

 

[imograss]

Cool.

 

[Kirk]

Thats blasphemy having a picture of BBass on a hunting site.

Did you enjoy the backseat approach to fishing?

 

[UTGrad]

Great post!

 

[Coach B]

Can you share what you are looking for when winter crappie fishing on TN River lakes? I'm thinking of spending a few days over Christmas Break on Wheeler and possibly KY lake.

 

[rsimms]

Can you share what you are looking for when winter crappie fishing on TN River lakes? I'm thinking of spending a few days over Christmas Break on Wheeler and possibly KY lake.

Around here we look for deep bluffs where the main river channel runs right next to bluff. Fishing is usually best when there is some current that forces the crappie to gang up in a pocket or eddy created by a point or obstruction along the bluff line... and again, in winter they're typically very deep... 15 to 25 feet. You can also find fish on/under docks provided they are directly on main channel with deep water. If it's similar to here, don't waste your time back in creeks or bays where you fish in the Spring.

 

[Coach B]

Thanks for the info, I've never tried anything like that.

 

[rsimms]

Thanks for the info, I've never tried anything like that.

I didn't either until just a few years ago ... only then did I realize that I had missed out on a lot of GREAT crappie fishing up until that point.

 

[buckhorn40]

 

[go-devil]

great catch!