Cold water question - Crappie and Bluegill

[Kelsey1]

Due to my lake having ZERO ice I am getting the boat out. I have never fished when surface water this cold (33 Degrees), should you drift or anchor with similar jigs to ice fishing or should you use fall type presentations. Experience tells me to slow everything down but thought I would ask the question.

Most winter fishing I do is for crappie and bluegill

Frustrated ice fisherman with a new Frabill ultralite and X67C Lowarance icemachine sitting in the garage:mad:

[scottyhoover]

Find some standing weeds in 8-10ft and start there use small bobbers with ice fishing jigs and baits....waxworms would be a good start or minnows for the crappies. Anchor or drift either way, try to fish slow but remain mobile just like you would on the ice.

[kroppe]

What scotty said.

[Kelsey1]

Thanks Scotty and Kroppe
I was out last night and nothing, but i was looking in too deep of water per your suggestion I will go a little shallower. i was in the 16 - 20' last night.

You should see my neighbors out on there decks:lol: they think I am crazy. Wait till next year (if I have to) when I mount my Frabill shelter to the front of the pontoon.:yikes:

I did have a big ***** pike come up and check out my minnow, you should have seen my X67C light that fish up - hell the thing half scared me when it came on the screen I am going to have to get used to seeing fish coming up to the bait I have never had any electronics like this before

[scottyhoover]

If you know what areas produce when ice fishing you should start in that area. I have no idea what the fish are thinking this winter.....they might not know its winter for all we know.... Maybe they are confused wondering why spring is lasting so long....waiting to spawn...just like the rest of us :)