These last couple of years I have actually caught more crappie in the winter than I have in the spring. This year was an exception, my boat hasn't seen the water since the first part of Oct. After I got done deer hunting the weather turned nasty and I'm just now getting around to going. I caught some in a farm pond right after ice out. Used a jig about a foot deep under a bobber and reeled it in just as slow as possible. This has worked for me many times. If the weather warms back up I'm going to try and go on Tues.