Crappie Depth?

[Downthehole]

Hi All,

What depth would you normally find crappie?

I've been catching mainly white bass on the bottom at the last two Alum Creek tourneys. Yesterday I caught 2 crappies on the bottom 9" and 7." Tonight I noticed a lot of activity n my flasher half way up the water column (~13ft depth vs 25ft total depth). Out of interest I pulled up my bait to 13ft and caught a crappie. One major difference was that tonight I did see bait fish breaking the surface around me. This didn't happen yesterday.

Any thoughts/advice greatly appreciated.....

Andy

[quackpot]

Even in years past we caught crappie right by the bottom. I've even caught them at Indian while trolling and tight lining for saugeye. My guess is that the bait fish are starting to move in and the crappie moved up in the water column to take advantage of it.

[Downthehole]

Thanks Quackpot....seemed strange. Maybe I should set bait at the bottom and miiddle of the column at see which is most productive?

[quackpot]

If I see them on the vex I will bring it up above them, pause and try and get them aggressive by moving it slowly up.

[Downthehole]

That's similar to what I did tonight, saw a red mark on the vex at 13ft, slowly brought my bait up to around 12ft and the crappie inhaled it. I was surprised that I did spook the fish.

[quackpot]

I've caught gills that were in that range at the first tournament that chased down as I was bringing it up.

[slabslayer]

Crappie are notorious for moving vertically in the water column. They also feed above them, so any lure presented below the fish won't even be looked at. Moving the lure up in the water column is the way to go. I also have done the opposite, started high and worked my bait down a foot at a time. But crappie will many times hold in the middle of the water column, especially around wood.

[toadfish]

Suspended crappie are usually aggressive and feeding.  When near bottom, they are generally resting, but will feed.  Whenever you see suspended fish on your electronics, note the depth and try putting a jig or minnow there or above.  What is the worst thing that can happen?  Crappie will be where cover, oxygen and food are located at temps they like.

[Downthehole]

Thanks everyone! Some good pointers and things to experiment with....

[MDBuckeye]

At Buckeye I caught crappie 2ft below the ice down to the bottom.  The higher fish tended to be more active and willing to bite as well.  It seems like at Alum things can be similar but they don't typically come up that high in the water column, probably because of the depth.  I've also heard that barometric pressure has something to do with all of that as well.

[Optfish]

THANKS. ALL SEEMS LOGICAL. THANKS FOR THE CHALLAGE ON MY THINKING 

[holehopper]

always heard with low barometric pressure fish deeper,which are usually associated with a cold front.