Fall and Winter Crappie fishing can be tough. One day they’re red hot and the next day you can’t find a Crappie on the lake. Another area that is unnecessarily tough is the weather. A cold front can blow in and the weather can turn threatening literally without notice. This is another reason fishing for Crappie in late Fall through early Spring on the lake is so unpredictable for many fishermen. However, not all is lost. There are many Fall and Winter Crappie that are caught below boat docks in the late Fall through early Spring. Here’s some tips on discovering your share of the Crappie.

The weather is probably the single largest variable a fisherman has to deal with when trying to locate and entice Crappie to bite during the Winter thru early Spring. Fronts can blow in with little notice. The wind can change direction, pick up speed or become calm all within a small window of time. Is it any wonder we have a hard time finding and catching Crappie in late Fall through early Spring!

There is one place where Crappie fishermen can go to get out of the weather and have a reasonable chance at catching enough slabs for a fish fry. These places are boat docks. But not any ole boat dock will work. We’re looking for boat docks that have Crappie beneath them! This is sometimes easier said than done. But with a little practice and a little research, you can learn how to find the best boat docks for Winter Crappie.

To find boat docks over deep water, look for Marina’s that have slips for large power boats and sail boats. These boats draft much deep and thus require deep water slips. It’s not uncommon to find them moored over old creek or river channels. Find slips like this at a Marina and prepare the hot oil because there is a fish fry right around the corner!

Once you’ve found a Marina near deep water, with docks near or over drop offs, the next step is to find out what the Crappie want to bite. I use small minnows to begin with to find where the Crappie are holding. Some days, they’re suspended halfway between the brush and surface. Other days they’ll be holding tight to the brush. On the rare warm days, I’ve even found them in less than two fee of water.

You can either continue to catch Crappie with minnows or switch to a tube jig should the action heat up. I like to use tiny tube jigs in the 1/32 ounce range. If you find Crappie holding a certain pattern under one slip, you’ll find them holding the same pattern beneath other slips.

Don’t overlook indoor heated fishing docks. Many larger lakes have at least one Marina that has one. These can be a real life saver when the weather turns nasty. Plus, many also have refreshments for fishermen. This is also an excellent way to introduce children to Winter Crappie fishing. But be warned. Kids can find fishing for Crappie in a heated dock while drinking hot chocolate quite addictive!

Just because you don’t have a boat or don’t want to fight Ole Man Winter is no reason to miss out on Winter Crappie fishing. The action can be just as fast and furious right at the docks!