Fish deeper and slower, then slow down your presen¬tation some more. Crappie may not be on the bottom, but suspended in a cooler thermocline. Keep an eye on your depth sounder so you do not fish under the fish. Deep water can be good. Deep water with a steep rise will provide more shade. Try glow, jig colors in these deeper waters. What works in the hotter months often works in the winter.
Note your success¬ful deep-water spots for later use. Waters tend to cool after a rain shower. As aquatic weeds grow, they filter and clean the wa¬ter. Choose lighter line to re¬duce line visibility. Night fishing is often more comfortable for you and the crappie. Bank fishing at night is easier with lighted floats. Give the waters plenty of time to cool down. Try fishing after midnight. The shade of docks in deeper waters may hold fish too. Shoot small jigs under these docks. You can slow your dock-shooting presentation with a small float, just above your jig. Minnows are not too frisky in warmer temperatures. Place a damp towel over the bait-bucket to keep them cool.Adjusting your tactics for warmer waters will keep you in crappie fillets, year-round.