Deep Freeze Crappie
by Ken Sturdivant
Southern Fishing Schools Inc.
The weather has a turned
so cold that many parts of Georgia lakes have frozen over. With the
water temperatures
dropping
to the
high 30’s and low 40’s catching fish, especially crappie might not sound
like a good plan. But there are some really good fish biting right now
for the the
die hard crappie angler. The secret to these fish is to find a row of deep
docks that have at least 25 feet of water under them. These crappie are
now schooled
up in very large schools at depths of not more than 10 feet deep. The common
expectation is to find them deep. But right now they are under the docks
so thick, we cannot see through them on the under water camera.
The best way to beat cold
weather fishing is to leave the live bait alone and use down sized
artificial lures. and when the crappie get cold, they will not chase
a bait very far.
Proper presentations are the key and you’ll have to drop these baits
right on their nose. For artificial lures, go small. Small mini tube
jigs from Bass Pro Shops
called Squirts look too small for any fish. But try a small 1/16th
ounce lead head and a mini tube bait on ultra light tackle and doodle
these
baits right
to the fish.
There is nothing wrong with dropping some extra scent even
on live bait. Adding some extra scent to these baits is easy by squeezing
the
bait and
dropping the scent onto the hole in the hollow tube. Let go of the bait
and the scent will be pulled inside. Now for the right tackle. Choose
one of two
fishing
poles. Try an ultra light spinning rod and reel and load it with 4 pound
test line. Take the bait and shoot it into the dock and then close
the bail. The
bait will swing slowly under the dock and the fish will simply grab it
before it sinks
past them.
The other rod can be a B and M cane pole that is at least
12 feet long. Tie the small tube on 6 feet of line and then stick the
pole
inside the
docks. Pick it up and just drift it through the dock.
Cold weather
crappie schools are under these docks and find the school and you can
load a
cooler in less than
an hour.
Information on "On the Water
Schools" and other Articles By: Ken Sturdivant
Copyright® 2000
Southern Fishing
Schools Inc.
