Hi Dan .. I’m going to Reelfoot Lake next week ( 2/27 – 3/1) to fish for crappie. Reelfoot is a shallow lake .. average depth around 6 ft. There are standing cypress trees, heavy concentrations of lily pads, grass shorelines.. where would think the crappie would be holding this time of year ? I was thinking of vertical jigging with tube jigs around the trees and in the pads… also will fish with minnows .. was considering just drifting fishing minnows under bobbers “searching” for fish …. what would be your suggestions for winter fishing in a shallow lake ? thanks for any advice … Gene

If the waters are not frozen you have the right ideas. Start at the deepest end and work your way to the shallower waters. It is a little early but the waters are starting to warm from the longer days and so are the other life in the lake. Everything is starting to turn around, plants will but starting to wake up and so will the bait fish and of course what good are bait fish without something to eat them. Bring a depth finder and a temperature probe. These guys will be looking for the warmest waters and some currents. I know, lakes do not have currents, well yes they do. Water does move around the lake through normal heating and cooling cycles so look what heats the water and what cools it. This lake will have really warm waters in the shallow areas that are exposed to the sunlight. This is where the bait fish will be so let us discuss that for a moment. Bait fish will be moving around the plant life so look for green areas and especially look for green areas that are close to a ledge. The deep waters are where the fish spent most of the winter and they will still be hunkering down there for most of the day but when this light hits they will be coming out for a quick and easy bite.