Opening Cast – Dec 2025

The changing season brings with it changes in crappie locations and feeding patterns.  Change gets harder for this aging angler, but crappies are just like me, they react at first hesitant to change, especially the weather and water conditions and as they acclimate, they go back to eating.

The one thing I have found fishing for crappies is that a change in wind direction can stop the bite for hours.  Frontal and barometric pressure changes can impact crappies eating habits for days.  These mood swings can frustrate the best of us.

One of the key mood changes with major weather and water conditions can cause them to go motionless while resting on the bottom.  We have seen this reaction repeatedly in numerous lakes and rivers around the country.

So, how does an angler achieve coaxing one of them or more to bite in these funky moods?  One must slowwwww dowwwn the presentation and sometimes slowly bounce the bait on the bottom near areas the crappies have been in prior to these changes.

Smaller baits, live bait and color or the lack of it may all be important to catching these picky eaters.  If clearer water, downsize your line or leaders.  Choose colors that match the bait in that area.  Use scents to ensure when you get one to bite it, they will not reject it as quickly.

If and when you can get one or two to bite, this can entice others as well to “fire up” and compete for a morsel of food.  If they stop, try changing colors to see if some fish just want something slightly different.  Work the area thoroughly and be patient.

My favorite bait types for these conditions are:

• Smaller baits such as Bobbie Garland Itty Bits, Tiny’s tied jigs, small Road Runners all one inch in size or smaller and using smaller weights like 1/32 to 1/16oz on jig head

My favorite equipment is:

• B’n’M TCB rods and reel combos
• Gamma 4-8lb test clear line

Try these tips on your next early winter trip.

God bless and have a very Merry Christmas

Dan Dannenmueller – PUBLISHER