The weather has a turned so cold that many parts of Georgia lakes have frozen over. With the water temperatures dropping to the high 30’s and low 40’s catching fish, especially crappie might not sound like a good plan. But there are some really good fish biting right now for the the die hard crappie angler. The secret to these fish is to find a row of deep docks that have at least 25 feet of water under them. These crappie are now schooled up in very large schools at depths of not more than 10 feet deep. The common expectation is to find them deep. But right now they are under the docks so thick, we cannot see through them on the under water camera.

The best way to beat cold weather fishing is to leave the live bait alone and use down sized artificial lures. and when the crappie get cold, they will not chase a bait very far. Proper presentations are the key and you’ll have to drop these baits right on their nose. For artificial lures, go small. Small mini tube jigs from Bass Pro Shops called Squirts look too small for any fish. But try a small 1/16th ounce lead head and a mini tube bait on ultra light tackle and doodle these baits right to the fish.

There is nothing wrong with dropping some extra scent even on live bait. Adding some extra scent to these baits is easy by squeezing the bait and dropping the scent onto the hole in the hollow tube. Let go of the bait and the scent will be pulled inside. Now for the right tackle. Choose one of two fishing poles. Try an ultra light spinning rod and reel and load it with 4 pound test line. Take the bait and shoot it into the dock and then close the bail. The bait will swing slowly under the dock and the fish will simply grab it before it sinks past them.

The other rod can be a B and M cane pole that is at least 12 feet long. Tie the small tube on 6 feet of line and then stick the pole inside the docks. Pick it up and just drift it through the dock. Cold weather crappie schools are under these docks and find the school and you can load a cooler in less than an hour.