Embankment dams are the most commonly built dams in the United States. Massive structures made of earth and rock, embankment dams rely on their heavy weight to resist the force of the water. Several key ingredients, both natural and man-made, will dictate how crappie relate to them as water levels drop during winter drawdowns.
• Suspended – A sunny day may pull crappie toward the surface where they will suspend. Look for a flat-calm area where the sun’s rays can radiate heat and draw baitfish and crappie upward in the water column.
• Shallow – Crappie may relate to shallow rocks for similar reasons as suspending. Shallow rocks warm water and draw bait and crappie to the bank. Shoreline debris such as logs, sticks or brush makes such an area more attractive to crappie.
• Irregular features – Anything from a water-control structure, larger rocks or an underwater tree laying on the dam may break the flow of water and congregate crappie out of the current.
• Mud flat – The base of the dam where the rocks meet the bottom is always a potential holding spot, especially in changing barometric pressure conditions. Structure lying along this juncture, like old logs or stumps, will congregate fish. Also look out in front of the dam where crappie will simply lie in the mud, often away from structure.
• Creek channel – Fish love the edges of creek and river channels, and wintertime is no exception. A river channel that runs along the base of the dam and has any irregular feature such as logs, rocks, stumps or man-made structure should be checked thoroughly.
• Corners – Check both corners where the dam makes a more than 45-degree bend or meets with another terrain feature such as a swimming beach, sheer wall or natural shoreline. These areas are large eddy areas, and typically hold fish.
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