Lake Conditions:  Fair - 46° / Lake Temperature  57° - 356.60'
Cadiz, Kentucky
Cadiz, Kentucky
Cadiz, Kentucky
Closer Than You Think

Crappie Bite Results Mixed; Fish Continue to Look Healthy

Written by Doug Wynn - Published on December 30, 2019

Hey Folks from the Excel Bay Pro 230, "Fishful Thinking". We have now gone from summer to winter to back to fall with winter heading back just in time for the weekend. With all the rain, the lake levels have been fluctuating slightly but the flow at the dams has been very high. Cold surface temperatures and high current usually means some seriously slow fishing. For some, that has been the case. For others, there have been some nice catches dotted with big crappie.

A friend of mine who fishes a lot of the same crappie tournaments we do got ahold of me late last week. He was asking what I have seen or heard about fishing. He also said for the first time he ever remembered; he had just failed to catch a single keeper crappie on KY Lake during a day-long trip. He was beat up about that. I would be too considering he is a great crappie fisherman.

Many of the crappie catches I'm hearing about are coming from water as deep as 30 feet and using a method that puts the bait in front of the fish for quite some time before they will bite. The bite is very fickle. Many of these fishermen are using the new Garmin Livescope units to gauge the reaction of the fish they find. As strange as that seems to many, that technology is now available.

The same results can still be had using a long-proven vertical jigging method by finding the deep structure and working it thoroughly. Many of the largest fish are staying buried up in cover and are taking a lot of coaxing but the end result if often a very nice stringer of big crappie.

The universal thing I'm hearing about all the crappie caught is they are in wonderful shape and most are gorged with shad. That is something every fisherman on these lakes should be thankful for. A couple of years ago it looked like we were headed for a crappie Armageddon. A couple of good shad and crappie spawns has sealed our future as a bright one.

Check out any deep structure you can find. Using Down Imaging or Side Imaging, one can locate such cover and tell if it is holding fish. When a piece of cover holds a concentration of crappie is located, take time to work it thoroughly before giving up on it.  Many times, it just takes that first crappie biting to put the entire school in a biting mood.

Try minnow imitation shad bodies on a jig head and consider tipping it with a small minnow. Scent attractants like Slab Sauce or crappie nibbles will also help, especially for those who don't like minnows.

The Boat Show season is upon us. I will be at the Collinsville, Illinois "Let's Go Fishing Show" this weekend. Next weekend is the West KY Boat and Outdoor Show at the CFSB Center in Murray. I will be presenting seminars both Saturday and Sunday.

I will have my Excel with me like last year and will be happy to talk equipment, rigging, techniques, or even booking trips with each of you. Representatives from Excel Boats will also be hanging around with me. My booth will be right next to the seminar area. Come by and say hello. I'll be the Santa Clause looking guy in the sponsor jersey.

My phone is ringing pretty regularly these days with questions and bookings. Dates will soon be filling up so if you are considering fishing with me this season, please don't wait around for dates. The time you prefer may not be available later. I'll still be in the blue and silver Bay Pro thru this season but I'll be offering more spider rigging, Livescope vertical jigging, and casting to structure. I'll not be selling my trolling poles; I just want to be able to offer some new techniques.

We will soon begin filming a new series of the Fishing Tips videos, just in time to get ready for spring fishing. Keep an eye out for those.

Please be careful on the lakes. The surface temperature will soon be back on their way into the low 40s and even 30s. The time one would have to save themselves is minimal in the water at those temperatures. Consider carrying extra clothes with you. If you do get wet in nice weather, most of us have rain suits in the boat and that might be enough protection for one to be able to get to the truck and the warm heater.

Wearing a PFD should be standard equipment in winter conditions.

The lake levels are in the mid 354 level and that means Gremlins everywhere. Watch out for shallow areas, submerged surprises and floating debris that might be pulled out of bays with the heavy current flows.  Just because your boat will run 80 mph doesn't mean that is a smart thing to do right now.

I'll see you on the water or at the Boat Shows. Have a happy New Year!

Welcome to our slice of Heaven.



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