Turning to crappie when the leaves are turning
FALL HAS ARRIVED. The leaves are turning, the deer and squirrels are moving and the crappie are biting. As the water temperature begins to drop, crappie and many other species begin to migrate into their springtime spawning areas—not to spawn but to follow the schools of shad that move into shallow bays from the main lake. As the summer heat fades and water temperatures fall during cool autumn nights, lakes begin to turn over. This is when the warmer water beneath the cooling surface water rises. This rapid mixing of the water can wreak havoc on fish.
During this time, shad move back into shallow bays to escape the mixing water, where the turnover is less pronounced. Oxygen levels also drop on the main lake. But the zooplankton that the shad eat is still concentrated, and tributaries within these shallow bays also help to introduce oxygen into the water.
It’s the same setup that occurs in the spring, which is why most crappie anglers know that spring is a great time to pursue crappie in the shallows. The difference is that during the fall, crappie are focused on one thing: eating. With winter approaching, they must build up fat stores to survive. Because of this, crappie are scattered throughout the water column feeding on shad that are on the move.
Trolling, also known as longlining, is a good way to offer your presentation to these roaming crappies. Speed and depth are key. Whether you troll crankbaits or plastics, getting them to the proper depth can be the difference between a great day fishing and just a nice day on the water. Use several rods to vary the depth until you find where most of the fish are located. Bait depth is varied by the amount of line let out behind the boat. More line means your bait runs deeper; less line and your bait will run shallower in the water column.
Trolling is done by placing poles in rod holders while you move along at a constant speed. The starting point for me is 1.5 mph. Sometimes fish want it slower and sometimes they want it faster; let the fish tell you what they want and adjust accordingly. With multiple poles you also can troll different colors and styles of baits. A certain color or profile can make all the difference. Trolling is a good way to cover water and pick off fish that are scattered throughout a bay.
Fall is a great time to be outdoors. Hunting season is in full swing, hiking and camping are a delight, and many more outdoor adventures await. Each autumn I struggle with what I want to do but trolling for crappie is a constant. Give trolling a try this fall and enjoy a family day out on the water in the great outdoors.
KEN MCBROOM, an outdoors writer/photographer, created RamblingAngler.com. McBroom grew up in Lynchburg, Tennessee, and now lives in western Kentucky.
