| Crappie fishing in winter can be a daunting | | | | that will be found in shelter they are hiding |
| challenge but cheer up there is help. Super | | | | in. Most waters will get a little clearer |
| crappie fishing really begins after the ice | | | | when they ice over. When this happens use |
| is long gone in the spring but its cold now | | | | smaller jigs. |
| and we are hungry for that clean white morsel | | | | |
| of meat. | | | | I would also suggest using really light |
| | | | colors on the jig like yellows and whites. |
| So you ask how to catch the little guys and | | | | Some of the smaller plastics seem to work |
| how to get that pan fish in your pan and when | | | | well for me I like to use smaller grubs or |
| ice fishing there are only a few key items to | | | | tubes. When I know the water is clear I start |
| consider: bait, location and ice. | | | | with white or very light colors and work |
| | | | towards darker colors. But as the visibility |
| When it is cold the fish are slower and their | | | | of the water changes go with a color that is |
| hunting patterns change. Do not forget this - | | | | only slightly lighter. |
| EVER. We are not much different, we like our | | | | |
| ice cream in the summer and chili in winter. | | | | Remember most bait fish or insects are really |
| Keep this in mind when fishing in any water | | | | trying to blend in to the background so you |
| temperature. Use fast baits in warmer waters | | | | want to stand out just a little bit more. It |
| and slower baits in colder waters. | | | | really is not that hard when the waters are |
| | | | green use a slightly lighter green jig. But |
| When the waters are cooler and sometimes | | | | if the waters or currents are really active |
| frozen everything below the surface moves | | | | use a stiff plastic jig and if the waters are |
| slower so when choosing jigs pick ones that | | | | still use a feathered jig because they will |
| move slower, this means lighter weight too as | | | | look more lively. |
| it will not sink so fast. Many of the plastic | | | | |
| jigs will move smoothly through the water, | | | | Another good trick is to use a light colored |
| this is a great advantage in the spring | | | | body with a medium contrasting head. For |
| months, but not so much in the colder waters. | | | | example use a yellow grub with a red head or |
| | | | reverse it. But I've haven had a lot of |
| Feathered jigs once wet will also smooth out | | | | success using opposite colors like red with |
| and move quickly through the water but an | | | | green. |
| artificial feather sometimes will fall slower | | | | |
| than most plastics. Do not forget either that | | | | I know we do not carry a color wheel, |
| plastics will get stiffer when they get | | | | although it might help, in our tackle box but |
| colder and this is part of the reason that | | | | if the color combination seems unnatural |
| smaller jigs work well in the colder waters. | | | | chances are the crappie might think so as |
| | | | well. You can use opposite colors if there is |
| When the water temperatures drop below 50 | | | | a gradient between the colors. Just avoid |
| degrees crappie will seek shelter in almost | | | | sharp contrasting colors as these do not |
| any structure they can find, so choose a bait | | | | appear readily in nature. |