Crappie

Curious if anyone has come up with a pattern for catching crappies through the ice early to mid season, they always show up in numbers mid march, but ive never seen 1 caught before that. dont want gps points, just a yes or no, maybe with a general depth

Buy DB a 12 of molson excel and he will tell you all you need to know. Lol. The only time I had any real success was with him. Both on ice and open water. I found when I have caught them they were just off bottom. Most people say they suspend and feed upwards but last time out was complete opposite. Seriously, check out his posts on crappie.

FF.

Gotta say that as of this past spring, had some success with them just off a hook+worm, but man I love catching them.

Never had any luck though on the hard water. Will def. try though this season.

From what I have read, now I am no expert, just what I have heard or been able to find is for early winter, try shallow waters in and around the weed beds/lines.

Jigging I've been told is best bet. Tip with a live minnow. This will be my strategy this season.

Mid season I know for sure that you are supposed to fish deep expansive mud flats with possible shallow spawning locations such as feeder creeks near by. When fishing these spots you should use grub imitations as the crappies will be feeding invertebrates. Prime depth is 25-35 ft, but it depends on the lake.

24 Thanx! Lmao Slipfloat man,that's the ticket! Lively 2-3" shiners try various depths until you locate fish. Tube jigs at various depths and colours, and most important a lake with abundant Crappies. They bite best at early ice, good luck!

24 Thanx! Lmao Slipfloat man,that's the ticket! Lively 2-3" shiners try various depths until you locate fish. Tube jigs at various depths and colours, and most important a lake with abundant Crappies. They bite best at early ice, good luck!

I would happily donate a 24 to learn from you.

24 Thanx! Lmao Slipfloat man,that's the ticket! Lively 2-3" shiners try various depths until you locate fish. Tube jigs at various depths and colours, and most important a lake with abundant Crappies. They bite best at early ice, good luck!

I would happily donate a 24 to learn from you.

Thanx appreciated, Too kind lol

i've done alright on them in a few of the kawartha lakes in the winter, but my question is about simcoe. Obviously a good population of them, cause the holland stacks up with them in the spring. Ive caught them sporadically at the back of cooks late ice and also at back of k-bay late ice, but wondered if anyone is seeing any in the months of jan or feb, and i'd buy Db a case for some knowledge on the brutes he's been catching, always a pleasure reading his posts

There are definitely a few people who have figured out their locations/patterns on simcoe outside of the spring spawn, but I think it is one of the most tightly guarded secrets on the lake.

Most do well on the lakes around Lake Simcoe.... I'll bet the 24 that DB crappie are not on Simcoe! My problem is during hard water season I ask myself... what do I want to catch? Perch? Crappie? Whitefish/Lake Trout?

The answer 9 out of 10 times has always been Whitefish and Lake Trout. The pressure for Crappie on Lake Simcoe does not happen until after mid March for most part. Do some research and you will find your answer. There are lakes close to Simcoe that have a lot of Crappie and great early ice if that is your fish preference.