finding crappies

[Stilly]

I have a few spots that produce crappies once the sun goes down, I never see one before then. I've drilled probably 50 holes in the surrounding area trying to find them when its light out, no results. Any tips for finding the crappies during the day?

[Chill62]

I'm in the same boat. Can fish all day and not have a thing on the graph but from 4-7 the graph lights up like a christmas tree. I've tried shallower, Deeper, Its a mystery to me.

[Fred_Bear]

Go to a different lake... probably not be the answer you're looking for, but some lakes just seem to "come alive" for that late afternoon/evening bite you're experiencing. No different than other lakes that are hot during the day and shut off at sunset.

So rather than beating yourself up searching for inactive fish, go try a nearby lake that may have a day bite and come back to the evening bite at sunset.

[Cicada]

If you can find a green tall, preferably cabbage, weedbed, you could try poking a couple dozen holes on top and around it. Small jig and waxworm and keep the bait high in the water column, maybe a foot or so below the ice. Sneak around from hole to hole and spend ten to fifteen minutes on each hole. Your electronics will be of little use at this point and you'll want to be able to see your lure all the time. I've had crappies cruise just below the ice in March and they'll glide in, suck in your bait, and spit it out in a second or so. This is why you have to be watching the lure. When it disappears, set the hook.

[Guest]

FredBear is correct...most lakes crappies mainly bite during low light levels; there are very few lakes where crappies bite all day but they are out there....having said that, come the March/April melt with water running down the cracks & old holes creating oxygen and the crappies migrating toward their spawning grounds and putting their feed bag on they will bite all day on every lake...my fav time of year to fish!

Just be careful on that late ice, fish with a buddy, carry ice picks.

[Stilly]

Thanks for the response guys, I never thought to fish over weeds right below the hole. I'm gonna have to try that. Does anyone know of any books or videos that will help me learn about crappies, specifically where to look for them at different times of the year? I have the suspended winter crappies in the dark and the spawning locations part figured out, the rest of the year I have trouble getting on them, thanks.

[slick2526]

Dont know for sure on a book but I would see what the in-fisherman series offers. I would also take a look on youtube at the jason mitchell, and in-depth outdoors videos.