The fall crappie season provides a very unique and challenging environment for both beginner and seasoned anglers

  • Weather causes erratic behavior in both movement and feeding patterns of the fish
  • Crappie will typically congregate near the Thermocline (difference in layers of warm / cool water)
  • Fall causes a reverse movement of the water column – cool upper level water sinks down and is replaced by warmer water at deeper levels – this is referred to as the “turnover”
  • This changeover allows crappie to move to areas that they keep away from during summer months
  • The turnover doesn’t effect all impoundments or bodies of water – rivers and lakes with lockanddam setups will not experience a turnover due to the effects of water movement
  • One of the major secrets to success during any crappie fishing excursion is the realization that the fish will congregate in areas that provide the most comfortable conditions for them
  • During the turnover, debris from the lake bed and water with less oxygen move upward (similar to the motion you see when pouring cool creamer into a warm cup of coffee)
  • Crappie look for areas with the best quality water (where this change has yet to occur)
  • Due to debris in the water and lack of oxygen, crappie will seek out the nearest source of highly oxygenated water, areas with wind and waves, which infuses oxygen into the water
  • Windward shorelines and cover in shallow areas may become excellent fishing spots when the water becomes debris filled
  • After the turnover has completed across your body of water, head to standing timber – Fish can move shallow and still have cover or can move within the water column as the weather dictates
  • Spend only a short time with each stand of timber, continue to move with your trolling motor, prospecting, until you find where the fish are gathered

  • A great tip for use in vertical jigging near standing timber is to let your jig travel to the lake bed and slowly work it up with your free hand – Crappie will not travel down to take a jig, but slowly raising it will deliver the lure right into their strike zone
  • When a cold front moves through (which is often the case throughout the fall), crappie change their feeding habits and will be holding very close to cover
  • Slow your jigging down and hold the lure stationary for longer – the fish will most likely not be aggressive – using a smaller lure will also help out
  • If water clarity is low, crappie will rely more on sound – Use lures with rattles or jigs with flashy spinners
  • As with crappie habits during a cold front, they will be close to cover in dingy water
  • Work your jig very close to structures and cover – You may even try bumping the cover to spur on a fish to take your lure
  • As the water clears out, the crappie will start to move deeper – When this happens, use smaller lures on a light line – Crappie plugs, spoons and small jigs are excellent for this situation
  • When hunting down crappie, a sonar unit / fishfinder’s importance cannot be overstated – The fish typically use secondary channels in the lake bed to move between shallow and deep waters – Having the
    technology to find these channels is crucial.

These are just a few tips, but there is no replacement for experience. The better you get to know your particular fishing grounds, the better. A tactic that I have used for quite awhile is to take extensive notes after any fishing outing. Whether it is Spring or Fall Crappie fishing, chasing Muskie or white bass, the notes you take can prove invaluable if / when you are stumped by fish behavior.

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