However, there are multiple options for cajoling fish to bite. Martinka and I primarily used blue/white crappie tube jigs on 1/16-ounce jigheads tipped with Crappie Bites. Where there is one crappie, there are usually more.

If you don’t have good electronics, focus on working deep structure around known drop-offs until you locate the bite. Vertical jigging around deep structure such as brush piles, pilings or tree stumps will produce results. Where there are baitfish, there will be crappie. Once the water temperature hits around 50 to 56 degrees, crappie begin moving to shallower water and start feeding heavily. Normally, mid- to late February is the prespawn time for these preferred panfish. Jigging around brush piles and stumps is a good tactic for filling a cooler with crappie. However, when it begins to warm up, the crappie will move higher in the water column. Once located, fish will use the same places throughout the winter. Typically, they will congregate around two winter niches: 25 to 30 feet deep around the mouths of creeks feeding Lake Anacoco and 8 to 10 feet deep around cypress trees. Good electronics and contour maps can help any angler pinpoint where crappies’ preferred cold-weather habitat is. Staging areas remain generally consistent throughout north Louisiana.ĭuring early February, crappie will generally be found around drop-offs and deep pockets near vertical structure. These delectable panfish begin to congregate in predictable staging areas as spawning season approaches. Why February, not March?įebruary is known as the beginning of crappie time for serious anglers. Even during warmer months, water traffic barely increases outside of locals. I was astounded at the size of the crappie and stunned at the lack of anglers taking advantage of the lake and surrounding water system. For roughly a year, I have successfully targeted crappie in Anacoco Lake at various times during the year. Martinka grew up fishing Anacoco Lake, a passion she now shares with her daughter and, thankfully, was kind enough to share with me.

Ever since, I’ve been fishing around Leesville with my good friend, Sunny Martinka.

I would have been right there, bumper to bumper, heading towards Toledo Bend, too, if I wasn’t shown how great Anacoco Lake was by an angler last year.

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