Page 8 - Crappie NOW | January 2016
P. 8
I t’s no secret. Big water grows by Josh Lantz
big crappies. Large, deep lakes have an gas up the auger and get to work. Use your
abundance of forage and more places for GPS to confirm your location on the ice,
crappies to hide, feed and grow. Find a big and pick a variety of sweet spots over the
lake with relatively low angling pressure particular structure you plan to fish.
and you’ve set the stage for potentially epic A larger fishing party is beneficial
crappie fishing. because you can share the work of drilling
But, you’ve got to find them before holes and checking them for fish with sonar.
you can catch them. Anglers who do a little Once you mark fish, take the time to drill
research, drill enough holes, stay mobile more holes. It’ll save you time in the long
and fish speedy baits will be rewarded with run as you’ll waste less time fishing an
success. unproductive hole when an entire school
Seasonal Crappie Movements may be located just 10 or 15 feet away.
In smaller, shallower lakes, crappies
are typically located and caught throughout Mobility is Key
much of the winter season over main-lake Once the crappies are located, hole
basins. In large, deep lakes, however, they hopping is the key to keeping busy catching
tend to avoid the deepest areas and use them.
flats, humps and basins ranging from 20 to “Here on Lake of the Woods, the guys
40 feet deep. But crappies are also notorious who are willing to leave the comfort of their
for suspending. Depending upon conditions, fish houses and use their electronics to fish
they can be found anywhere in the water from hole to hole are the ones who catch
column, creating an additional variable in the most crappies,” says Lake of the Woods
the angling equation. Minnesota Tourism director and avid angler,
As the ice-fishing season nears its end, Joe Henry.
crappies transition from their deepwater “The best crappie anglers won’t waste
wintering areas towards shallow bays, time fishing a hole that doesn’t produce a
channels and river mouths in preparation mark on their flasher. They’ll keep moving—
for spawning. Depending on where and drilling more holes if necessary—until they
when you fish, concentrations of crappies get a sonar return,” he continues. “Then
will be present along a relatively straight they’ll drop down, catch a fish or two and
line between these distinct areas. During move on once the action slows.”
the late-ice period, take a stab at identifying Effective as it may be, hole hopping
some of these likely travel paths between requires some specialized gear – especially
wintering areas and spawning areas on a at the very top of the continental United
map of the lake you plan to fish. Look for States on Lake of the Woods, where daytime
potential staging locations where cover, temperatures can often remain below zero.
structure or current variations are present Quality boots and outerwear are a must.
along those paths. A piece of gear like Frabill’s Tackle Pack-
Drill ‘em Out Hand Muff is also indispensable, keeping
Once you’ve identified attractive areas, tackle organized and at the ready, while also
serving as a vital and cozy refuge for off-
duty hands.
8 Crappie NOW January 2016
