The first step in locating springtime crappies is to identify likely spawning areas –
shallow coves and back bays that are protected from the wind and warm up quickly
. Brush, lily pads or bulrushes – or other reed-type plants such as maidencane that grow on a firm bottom – provide optimal spawning cover.
What month do crappie start to spawn?
The Crappie Spawn happens every spring when the water temperatures reach above the 60-degrees. Depending on where you live, the crappie spawn can be anytime from
early March to the middle of May
. Like other panfish, crappie build spawning nests in shallow water. Most crappie spawn in depths from 1-6 feet of water.
What triggers crappie to spawn?
The key to timing the onset of the crappie spawn is the length of the day wherever you are fishing. Known to the fishery biologists as the photo period, this is simply the time that
elapses between sunrise and sunset
, and is the critical factor in triggering the spawning instinct in most fish.
Where do crappie go to spawn?
Crappie like to spawn in
areas of shallow water
, usually around 2-to-4 feet deep, with cover such as brush, flooded timber or weeds, and with easy access to deeper water. In areas with murky water and thick cover, I have sometimes found them nearly on the bank.
Do white or black crappie spawn first?
Ronnie Capps of Tiptonville, Tennessee, winner of many championship crappie tournaments across the United States, says that, “
Generally black crappie spawn first each year in the lakes we fish
. But the white crappie always seem to wait for 59 degree water temperature before beginning their spawning.
How old is a 15 inch crappie?
A white crappie (distinguishable because it has five or six dorsal spines, compared to the black’s seven or eight) of the same length and weight will be 1.9 years old. Most fish that are caught for sport are
between 2 and 5 years old
.
What time of day is best for crappie fishing?
In the case of crappie, the best time to catch them is during their feeding time, which is most frequently between the hours of midnight and 2 am. Additionally, during dawn and dusk can be good times to catch them, with many of them also feeding during these twilight hours.
What is the best crappie bait?
Minnows, worms, insects
—just about anything can catch a crappie’s attention. You don’t have to worry about the color of the bait, and you’re only throwing them what they would be eating anyway. Minnows are hands-down the favorite used by most, and some even tip a jig with a live minnow for a double-whammy.
What do crappie do after they spawn?
Instead of staying around stumps, stake beds or brush piles, crappies
suspend over nothing in wide-open areas
. They have the post-spawn transition blues. You may find some loosely associated with a ledge, but not holding tight on it.
Why are the crappie not biting?
There is many reasons that crappie don’t bite.
Barometric pressure, muddy water, cold water
when they just don’t have to feed all day long. Fish in general just don’t bite all the time, but there are ways to trigger strikes from these reluctant crappie.
What is the best water temperature to catch crappie?
Water temperatures around the upper-50°F to 60°F range begin to bring crappies shallow into spawning areas. Peak spawning activity generally occurs at water temps of
68°F to 72°F
for both black and white crappies.
What is a good size crappie?
d. General growth and mortality guidelines: crappies should reach
10 inches in length by age 3
and have natural mortality less than 40%; they should reach 9 inches by age 3 and have natural mortality less than 30%; or they should reach 8 inches by age 3 and have natural mortality less than 20%.
What is the lifespan of a crappie?
This species is known to live
at least 15 years
. During the first four years of life, young black crappies grow quickly in the warm waters of the southern US while growth is slower in cooler northern U.S. waters. Black crappies reach maturity at 2-4 years of age.
What is the longest crappie ever caught?
This massive
21-inch long, 5-pound, 3-ounce white crappie
has been the IGFA all-tackle world record for the species for over half a century. It was caught in the Yocona River below Enad Dam. Bright used an Action Rod and a Denison-Johnson reel.
Is a 15 inch crappie big?
Crappies are considered a slab if they are
14 to 16 inches or larger
and weight 4+ pounds. There are not really any special techniques or tricks used to catch the slab. Just as with regular sized crappie, you can fish from the shore, a boat, on a dock, or in a cove.
How fast do crappies grow?
Fingerling crappie that are stocked as 3 to 4 inches in the fall will grow to
7 to 9 inches in a year
. Depending on the food supply, these could be 10 inches by year two and large enough to enter the catch.
