So I’ve been wondering if there’s crappies in a spot of mine. Loads of big white and yellow perch. The pond next to it but not connected has crappies.  The pond in question is 50 feet deep and 300

acres. Gin clear water sandy bottom. Some good weed beds, Rocks, and trees. The pond with crappies is 30 feet deep 76 acres  and more weedy.  Both of these ponds have no inlets or outlets, fed with ground water. I’ve fished the pond in question more than the other due to access. There is no fishery info on this pond.  I also haven’t spent much time fishing for panfish in either ponds.  I usually catch crappies as a by catch fishing for bass. If bass is slow then I switch up. 

Those are some mighty big ponds lol. I'm sure you'll get a bunch of replies about open water tactics. There were a couple really small ponds I fished back in the day. When the crappie came in shallow to spawn and we would catch them from shore with a panfish jig/tube under a small pegged float. If you don't mind waiting until spawn I'm sure you could do the same from a boat casting to shore.

Paging @Team9nine…

If there is any regular fishing traffic, there is a halfway decent chance at least a few crappie are in the other pond. Guessing you are fishing from shore? If so, @Kev-mo reply above is a good one. One of the most consistent chances at a crappie bite in these ponds is a good early spring warming trend with a wind blowing into the small shallow pockets or bays on one side of a pond. Fish it with small artificials to see what bites, or throw more traditional crappie tubes, grubs, etc. The rest of the year is a crapshoot as far as baits, time or location. They tend to really scatter in ponds unless there is a decent population. The edge of weed beds or any submerged brush piles or laydown/fallen trees you might be able to find would likely hold a few. If you have boat access of some sort, use your electronics to search for small schools of fish in open water, or longline troll small curly tail jigs all over the place hoping you run into one, then be sure to stop and fancast the area good. A lot of times in clear ponds, they won’t bite well if you are close enough to reach them on a cast, so the longline trolling deal is often the better option.

I’m with Kevmo- those are lakes, not ponds.  At least around here that’s for sure.  

 

If you want to know whether there are crappie or not, then in the spring when they are bedding is a gimme.  Ice out is also a good shout as the crappie around here will still be schooled up but will move into shallow backwaters.  So you end up with a LOT of fish hunkered down in a small area.  When you find them, there will be a bunch.

 

Once you know if they are there, then you have plenty of options and time to find them through the year.  For places that size, a boat and a little electronics go a long way. 

This spot is about the max size I like to fish. I fish out of a kayak! There’s a really nice shallow weedy cove I should try out in the spring 

I think that’s your plan.  At ice out when the water is starting to warm in the back bays they will slide up into there, especially if there is some weed cover or wood.  If it is shallow and clear you might even be able to see them, though lower in a kayak will be tougher.  A 2” plastic minnow like a Bobby garland crappie shad on a 1/32 head worked slow through should find them if they are there.  

Fall into winter is actually a good time to search for them. I tend to find them suspended on vertical structure like docks or the ends of trees in deep water. If you have any weeds left look for them on the outside edges . Usually the difficulty is figuring out the depth they’re at. I’ve caught them suspended at 10’ over a ledge in 16’. Electronics make it easier but I don’t have any. 

1 hour ago, Fried Lemons said:

Fall into winter is actually a good time to search for them. I tend to find them suspended on vertical structure like docks or the ends of trees in deep water. If you have any weeds left look for them on the outside edges . Usually the difficulty is figuring out the depth they’re at. I’ve caught them suspended at 10’ over a ledge in 16’. Electronics make it easier but I don’t have any. 

Good to know. I have a spot loaded with crappie with awesome standing timber . I want to break 2lbs I can’t wait to get out there and fish for em. Also has really big bass so I usually fish for bass and catch crappie accidentally 

8 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

I think that’s your plan.  At ice out when the water is starting to warm in the back bays they will slide up into there, especially if there is some weed cover or wood.  If it is shallow and clear you might even be able to see them, though lower in a kayak will be tougher.  A 2” plastic minnow like a Bobby garland crappie shad on a 1/32 head worked slow through should find them if they are there.  

This cove has great weeds. Best weeds in the whole place, good shallow brush too 

If there is a dock Crappie will be under it! Crappie are minnow and grub eaters , they make Crappie jigs for a good reason they work!
Tom