TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

During the springtime when water temperatures rise into the high 50s or low 60s, huge schools of both black and white crappie flood the warming shallow flats and submerged rock piles of our lakes to spawn. Most fishermen targeting the fantastic-eating, easy-to-catch game fish have a ball and many a family member can remember fun days catching lots of the paper-mouthed gamesters for the fish fry sure to occur later that evening.

But where do crappies go when they leave the shallower portions of the lake and why are they so darned difficult to locate, especially in the dead of winter? Fishing where they were in April becomes a futile gesture for sure, and most anglers turn their sights to other species.

Based on my own observations and experience, the fish continue to feed heavily, munching shad or other small minnows with gusto. Instead of remaining in the shallows, though, most of them tend to set up housekeeping in the deeper parts of a lake in and around submerged cover or structure.

Over the years, I've discovered that unusually deep areas are no obstacle for the fish. I have caught lots of them in depths exceeding 100 feet, but 35-50-feet seems to be a good starting point to begin one's winter search. By using my electronics, I can usually pinpoint the schools and fish straight down into the marks showing on my depth finders. Believe it or not, finding an area that also holds deep balls of baitfish can lead anglers to even better fishing than they had in the spring.

My favorite way of catching winter crappies remains a simple concept--use light line, fine-tipped rods and get a lively minnow or small jig down to their level. I'll occasionally use a mealworm- or nibblet-tipped jig, but by and large, a small, live minnow swimming in a tight circle will get their attention a whole lot faster than dancing a jig. Because the fish's cold-suppressed metabolisms are sluggish in their winter haunts, a slow, deliberate presentation almost always works a better than a fast one.

Right now, Isabella, Nacimiento and Lopez Lakes are producing good crappie fishing for those willing to endure the frigid elements of icy cold mornings. The Kern River Valley's crappies are suspended in the submerged trees down to 40 or so feet, and as long as the wind allows, will provide excellent action. My wife and I often target crappie in the French Gulch area, hitting rocks or submerged high spots in 40-50-feet of water. It's cold, slow and deep work, but we dress for the occasion and the fish bite.

Nacimiento Lake's huge populations of crappie are holding from 40-60-feet deep off the steeper, deeper points on the way to the Narrows. Fishing for spotted bass, several of my friends have been nailing some huge crappies on tiny lures intended for bass, but I'm certain live minnows are the way to go. Fishing with live bait will also provide other action in the form of white bass, catfish and spotties, which can only add to the fun.

Lopez Lake crappies are running from 30-50-feet deep, with a few as shallow as 20. Caught incidentally on spoons intended for large-and smallmouth bass, they are mostly found suspended in the large balls of bait located near the dam. Dropping a small minnow down to the fish showing on the meter will change the "incidental" to "intentional" in a hurry, I'm sure.

Winter crappie fishing is not for the faint of heart. Morning temperature lows range from the high teens to barely 40 degrees most of the time, with highs only rising into the 50s. Wearing specialized winter gear works miracles, yes, but sitting in one spot for any length of time can get very uncomfortable no matter what people have donned for the occasion.

Gloves, headwear, scarves and other warm clothing keep us mostly comfortable, but so does lots of hot beverages and ample food to keep our own metabolisms churning. We always wear our life jackets, for obvious reasons.

Life expectancy in frigid waters is short, so be careful.

Bob's Bait Bucket has all the fishing supplies one will need for the trip including line, poles, minnows and jigs.

I've been accused of shamelessly passing the word about my rod sponsor, G. Loomis, Inc., but I feel they do manufacture the best fishing rods in the business. The IMX-720 I use for my deep winter crappie fishing far exceeds even my own expectations, so if you get a chance, wave one around while visiting the bait store.