Creek mouth slabs

Kerr Lake’s crappie can be found around the mouths of creeks this month. (Picture by Slabs Guide Service)

Kerr Lake’s crappie are on the move

For anglers, February can feel like winter, but for crappie across the Carolinas, it’s time for them to get ready for the spawn. That’s why some crappie anglers refer to February fishing as “early spring fishing.”

That’s true for Eddie Moody of Roxboro, NC, who runs Slabs Guide Service (336-599-6566) on Kerr Lake.

Moody said during this month, anglers will notice a big difference in crappie behavior from the early part of the month to the last.

“Early in the month, you’ll probably catch fish 18 to 20 feet deep in some parts of the lake. Towards the end of the month, you’ll be catching plenty in water as shallow as 7 feet, and maybe even shallower than that if we have some unseasonably warm weather,” he said.

On average, he’ll catch the majority of crappie this month in 12 to 16 feet of water.

“These fish instinctively know that the spawn is coming. But that’s not the only reason they’re moving into the mouths of the creeks,” said Moody. “They are also following their food source, which is mainly shad.”

Forward facing sonar will definitely help anglers locate crappie around the mouths of those creeks. But Moody said old-fashioned tight-lining still works just fine.

“It’s tough to beat tight-lining this time of year. The fish are moving slow, and tight-lining allows you to dangle a bait right in front of their faces,” he said. “It’s just tough for them to ignore.”

Creeks like Bluestone and Buffalo will heat up pretty quickly this month.

“That’s on the upper end of the lake. The water is shallower there, so it will heat up first there, and the fish will move in,” he said.

He said anglers should pay special attention to the edges of the creeks, and secondary points that offer some type of structure. Brush piles, rocks, stumps, and downed trees are all prime targets for crappie to gather.

Slow and steady

When it comes to tightlining, Moody said it’s important to move slowly and use a spread of multiple rods.

“You want to try to stay around 1/2-mile an hour, and sometimes even slower than that,” he said. “You’ll see a good many anglers running 8 to 10 rods off the bow.”

Those rods will have reels spooled with 8-pound test monofilament for the main line, with 6-pound leaders that are anywhere from 12 to 24 inches long.

“You’ll catch plenty of crappie on jigheads in the 1/32- to 1/64-ounce size with soft plastic bodies. And usually, you’ll have better luck if you tip them with a minnow,” he said.

Moody likes Bobby Garland lures and the Baby Shad style grubs. His favorite colors change depending on conditions.

“Soft plastic colors I like include black/blue, chartreuse, chartreuse/pink, and red. Red is good for high-pressure days,” he said.

Fickle weather, which is common throughout February, can have a big impact on crappie behavior at Kerr Lake. When extreme cold fronts lower temperatures drastically, it can push the fish back out to deep water.

Many anglers find success by hitting the water on the first warm day after a cold front, which usually prompts crappie back to those creek mouths.

And on unseasonably warm days, crappie can be found all the way inside the creeks. But that doesn’t mean they are there to stay. Any drop in temperatures can push them right back out again.

This can be frustrating for anglers, but it’s just a part of the game this time of year. One thing you can count on is that crappie are feeling the urge to get into those creeks. Knowing that, just watch the weather and understand that what works one day may not work the next.

“But generally speaking,” said Moody, “you can’t go wrong by checking around the mouths of creeks this month. At some point, they’ll show up there. And the warmer it is, the more they’ll move toward, and eventually into, the creeks.

About Brian Cope 3053 Articles
Brian Cope is the editor of Carolina Sportsman. He has won numerous awards for his writing, photography, and videography. He is a retired Air Force combat communications technician, and has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of South Carolina. You can reach him at brianc@carolinasportsman.com.

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