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Now that the Full Snow moon is here, I can count down til the Full Moon in March, this year on 3/7/2023….this is exciting for me because it has meant the arrival of
shallow panfish on the Albemarle 9 out of the last 10 years in my area….

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Comment by Jack Sandlin on February 16, 2023 at 3:44pm

Water temps were 50-52* last Saturday. Some big females were caught in 2-4' of water. I was fishing a little deeper than that but I caught fish that were only 3' deep in the water column. Livescope has changed the crappie fishing considerably for me. I can see now that there;s more fish shallow (suspended ) more often than I ever imagined. That's in the lakes, tidal rivers and reservoirs. 

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on February 16, 2023 at 2:40pm

Hey Bruce….great question which has been debated year after year, this is my 24th year keeping records in coastal North Carolina and 55 is my magic number……but as long as it’s cold at night this transition will be slower……if you get a week with milder temperatures after the February Full Moon, it can happen quickly…..the other old timers clue is blooming dogwood trees……and we have some in full bloom as of this week…….

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on February 16, 2023 at 2:33pm

Understand John….we’ve had a very mild winter with current surface temperatures averaging 54 degrees……..it was very warm today, 79 on my car thermometer……but we still have some cold fronts to get through……but I’m expecting things to start getting active shallow in my area before the end of February….l.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on February 16, 2023 at 2:29pm

Hey Jack that’s good news…….I believe that tournament is the second week of March so there should be transition going on by then, should make it interesting if the females join the party…..good luck to you but I know you don’t need it…..

Comment by John Sheehan on February 16, 2023 at 1:55pm

50?/55?

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on February 16, 2023 at 9:05am

How warm does it have to get to get the fish moving?

Comment by John Sheehan on February 16, 2023 at 8:29am

Fish aren't in the shallows yet at my home lake 44 degree WT reading yesterday around Noon .

Comment by Jack Sandlin on February 15, 2023 at 4:49am

Some big females have already moved towards the shallows on the Triad Lakes. I'm hoping to get up your way and fish the Perquimans Tournament. 

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on February 8, 2023 at 2:12pm

Understand Troy……how has your winter compared to the last few years? Do you expect an earlier start to your spring fishing?

Comment by Troy Dorman on February 8, 2023 at 4:36am

I'm itching to get out, Jeff!!

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