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Crappie 101 and Water Temps
#9757955
02/21/14 03:12 AM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,720
Ken Gaby
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,720 |
Let me start with; what I'm gong to say is based partly on facts and partly theory. I know there will be exceptions to all cases. I'm going to talk generalities.
Crappie look for 3 things in this order; 1) oxygen 2) food 3) comfort zone. The need for oxygen over rides all else. No matter if animal, fish, fowl, human, when life is threatened, survival mode takes over everything else. If the table in front of you is set with the kings feast and there's no oxygen in the room, you're going to leave post haste without taking a bite.
Comfort zone includes, temp, light penetration, safety, almost everything else.
Black crappie start looking shallow to spawn 53-54 degrees, White crappie 57-58 degrees. Black crappie will start spawning in 56-57 water and white crappie in 58-59 water. Again this is general temps and not a fast rule. Both species like the water to be a little warmer. The colder the water temp, the longer it takes for the eggs to hatch.
From late fall till the summer thermocline sets in, oxygen is fairly evenly dispersed throughout the water column. Fish can find oxygen at all depths. Therefore food and comfort are next on the list.
There have been many things posted on water temp lately and how that may affect the spawn. Some people are finding fish shallow right now and some, like Cody, are catching them 40-45ft deep on Sandlin. So what gives?
Normal winter water temps on TX lakes get down to about 48-50. There hasn't been a winter like this in over 30 years. People have observed water temps as low as 37. Shad have a difficult time surviving in water colder than 40. And several people have observed shad die offs. Now we have seen several warm days and nights. And warm nights play a big factor in not cooling off the surface temp.
With the water this cold on main lakes, 45-48 or lower, fish will be looking for a comfort zone based on temp, especially the shad. At night shad tend to roam extensively looking for food and comfort zone. With the warm days and nights, the shallow water is now above 50 in many lakes. If the shad leave the 40-45 degree water at night and find 50+ degree water up shallow with food, guess what, they're not going back to a temp that stuns them and make them easy prey for other fish, or they just die cause it's too cold. Likewise for crappie. Water that's 50-52 feels a lot better than 45 degree water especially if there's some food there also.
So the crappie find a better comfort zone with food up shallow and they stay. Does this mean they immediately will build a nest. My theory is no. They may wait for a few degrees warmer. But not always. Just because the winter was harsh doesn't translate to fish waiting longer to go shallow. Since the shallow water is warmer relative to the deeper water, fish may actually move shallow quicker. Doesn't mean they are going to spawn sooner.
Summer thermocline has everything to do with the oxygen supply. Once the water heats and stratifies, oxygen is more abundant in the top layer, not deeper where the water is cooler. Therefore crappie will be shallow when there is a strong thermocline cause that's where the oxygen is. Bait fish will be there also. Water may be 90 degrees and the fish are stressed, but that's where the oxygen and shad are, so they stay.
Last edited by Ken Gaby; 02/21/14 03:13 AM.
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9757993
02/21/14 03:23 AM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 9
c165
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 9 |
Makes sense to me! I'm thinking about going to ray roberts this weekend try and do some bank fishing
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9758019
02/21/14 03:28 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,264
SheCrappieKilla
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,264 |
Well said Ken.
I will try to prove your theory right tomorrow.
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: SheCrappieKilla]
#9758144
02/21/14 04:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,716
Bobcat1
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,716 |
Bobby Barnett
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9758174
02/21/14 04:18 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,872
moonriver
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,872 |
Learning every day. Thanks.
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9758349
02/21/14 06:25 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,026
leanin post
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,026 |
Let me start with; what I'm gong to say is based partly on facts and partly theory. I know there will be exceptions to all cases. I'm going to talk generalities.
Crappie look for 3 things in this order; 1) oxygen 2) food 3) comfort zone. The need for oxygen over rides all else. No matter if animal, fish, fowl, human, when life is threatened, survival mode takes over everything else. If the table in front of you is set with the kings feast and there's no oxygen in the room, you're going to leave post haste without taking a bite.
Comfort zone includes, temp, light penetration, safety, almost everything else.
Black crappie start looking shallow to spawn 53-54 degrees, White crappie 57-58 degrees. Black crappie will start spawning in 56-57 water and white crappie in 58-59 water. Again this is general temps and not a fast rule. Both species like the water to be a little warmer. The colder the water temp, the longer it takes for the eggs to hatch.
From late fall till the summer thermocline sets in, oxygen is fairly evenly dispersed throughout the water column. Fish can find oxygen at all depths. Therefore food and comfort are next on the list.
There have been many things posted on water temp lately and how that may affect the spawn. Some people are finding fish shallow right now and some, like Cody, are catching them 40-45ft deep on Sandlin. So what gives?
Normal winter water temps on TX lakes get down to about 48-50. There hasn't been a winter like this in over 30 years. People have observed water temps as low as 37. Shad have a difficult time surviving in water colder than 40. And several people have observed shad die offs. Now we have seen several warm days and nights. And warm nights play a big factor in not cooling off the surface temp.
With the water this cold on main lakes, 45-48 or lower, fish will be looking for a comfort zone based on temp, especially the shad. At night shad tend to roam extensively looking for food and comfort zone. With the warm days and nights, the shallow water is now above 50 in many lakes. If the shad leave the 40-45 degree water at night and find 50+ degree water up shallow with food, guess what, they're not going back to a temp that stuns them and make them easy prey for other fish, or they just die cause it's too cold. Likewise for crappie. Water that's 50-52 feels a lot better than 45 degree water especially if there's some food there also.
So the crappie find a better comfort zone with food up shallow and they stay. Does this mean they immediately will build a nest. My theory is no. They may wait for a few degrees warmer. But not always. Just because the winter was harsh doesn't translate to fish waiting longer to go shallow. Since the shallow water is warmer relative to the deeper water, fish may actually move shallow quicker. Doesn't mean they are going to spawn sooner.
Summer thermocline has everything to do with the oxygen supply. Once the water heats and stratifies, oxygen is more abundant in the top layer, not deeper where the water is cooler. Therefore crappie will be shallow when there is a strong thermocline cause that's where the oxygen is. Bait fish will be there also. Water may be 90 degrees and the fish are stressed, but that's where the oxygen and shad are, so they stay. I think your way overthinking it, the crappie arent shopping for spawning grounds and following the shad around asking directions like they are trying to check into the Mariiot hotel to give birth., . They go back to the same spawning grounds where they were spawned,(if they can) when certain biological triggers are fired. When nature calls, theyre gone, and there gone get er done. Take Belton for instance., you know where they spawn every year, they are going to those same grounds to spawn, year after year after year. They arent searching out the warmest bank in the lake with baitfish on it, and dropping stakes.
COMING SOON! .. THE STICKLE HOOK " the stay level sickle hook". sits level in the water with all knots.! Provides better hook sets and more natural jigging motion. No more adjusting the knot, gluing , or tying loop knots that cause the hook point to tangle in the loop, or worse knick the line.. The jighook that will make all others obsolete !
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: leanin post]
#9758425
02/21/14 11:30 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,264
SheCrappieKilla
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,264 |
Let me start with; what I'm gong to say is based partly on facts and partly theory. I know there will be exceptions to all cases. I'm going to talk generalities.
Crappie look for 3 things in this order; 1) oxygen 2) food 3) comfort zone. The need for oxygen over rides all else. No matter if animal, fish, fowl, human, when life is threatened, survival mode takes over everything else. If the table in front of you is set with the kings feast and there's no oxygen in the room, you're going to leave post haste without taking a bite.
Comfort zone includes, temp, light penetration, safety, almost everything else.
Black crappie start looking shallow to spawn 53-54 degrees, White crappie 57-58 degrees. Black crappie will start spawning in 56-57 water and white crappie in 58-59 water. Again this is general temps and not a fast rule. Both species like the water to be a little warmer. The colder the water temp, the longer it takes for the eggs to hatch.
From late fall till the summer thermocline sets in, oxygen is fairly evenly dispersed throughout the water column. Fish can find oxygen at all depths. Therefore food and comfort are next on the list.
There have been many things posted on water temp lately and how that may affect the spawn. Some people are finding fish shallow right now and some, like Cody, are catching them 40-45ft deep on Sandlin. So what gives?
Normal winter water temps on TX lakes get down to about 48-50. There hasn't been a winter like this in over 30 years. People have observed water temps as low as 37. Shad have a difficult time surviving in water colder than 40. And several people have observed shad die offs. Now we have seen several warm days and nights. And warm nights play a big factor in not cooling off the surface temp.
With the water this cold on main lakes, 45-48 or lower, fish will be looking for a comfort zone based on temp, especially the shad. At night shad tend to roam extensively looking for food and comfort zone. With the warm days and nights, the shallow water is now above 50 in many lakes. If the shad leave the 40-45 degree water at night and find 50+ degree water up shallow with food, guess what, they're not going back to a temp that stuns them and make them easy prey for other fish, or they just die cause it's too cold. Likewise for crappie. Water that's 50-52 feels a lot better than 45 degree water especially if there's some food there also.
So the crappie find a better comfort zone with food up shallow and they stay. Does this mean they immediately will build a nest. My theory is no. They may wait for a few degrees warmer. But not always. Just because the winter was harsh doesn't translate to fish waiting longer to go shallow. Since the shallow water is warmer relative to the deeper water, fish may actually move shallow quicker. Doesn't mean they are going to spawn sooner.
Summer thermocline has everything to do with the oxygen supply. Once the water heats and stratifies, oxygen is more abundant in the top layer, not deeper where the water is cooler. Therefore crappie will be shallow when there is a strong thermocline cause that's where the oxygen is. Bait fish will be there also. Water may be 90 degrees and the fish are stressed, but that's where the oxygen and shad are, so they stay. I think your way overthinking it, the crappie arent shopping for spawning grounds and following the shad around asking directions like they are trying to check into the Mariiot hotel to give birth., . They go back to the same spawning grounds where they were spawned,(if they can) when certain biological triggers are fired. When nature calls, theyre gone, and there gone get er done. Take Belton for instance., you know where they spawn every year, they are going to those same grounds to spawn, year after year after year. They arent searching out the warmest bank in the lake with baitfish on it, and dropping stakes. Then why do I tend to catch more crappie in the warmest water during the early spring?
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9758475
02/21/14 12:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,819
fishinman
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
Good info, Ken.....
Thanks
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9758509
02/21/14 12:54 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,657
el Rojo
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,657 |
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9758592
02/21/14 01:32 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,720
Ken Gaby
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,720 |
Quote: "Take Belton for instance., you know where they spawn every year, they are going to those same grounds to spawn, year after year after year. They arent searching out the warmest bank in the lake with baitfish on it, and dropping stakes." Belton has been between 5-14 ft. low for 5 years. Except in 2011 when it was 6 ft. above normal in March. Not sure how the crappie are returning to those same spots. The traditional creek areas where I used to catch 'em are high and dry with 6ft tall blood weeds.
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9758675
02/21/14 02:02 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 14,308
Ketchn
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 14,308 |
not to contradict anything here but myself and 2 witnesses from the tff saw 34 and 36 on Waxahachie last weekend ....according to my archives the average lake temperatures this year were substantially colder than last year ....as much a 10 to 15 degrees on the same dates of the previous year depending on the lake i think that it turn made it very difficult for most crappie fishermen to understand what was actually going on ..... the temperature coupled with the drought conditions put some folks at a loss for where to look we figured out early on ....some spots were going to be very difficult while others were going to be a ketchn fest ..... and it had everything to do with the water temperatures .... so how it will effect the spawn and its timing i have no idea but right now my only concern is what lakes are the shallowest on average .... i will be on those water bodies first ... and as always KABOOM
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9758700
02/21/14 02:11 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,124
CrappieHappy
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,124 |
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9758743
02/21/14 02:24 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 787
Texas Brave Ranger13
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 787 |
Very interesting read Ken, thanks for sharing.
Greg L. Holland TAMU Currently Fish Lake Belton, Texas Disabled Army Veteran
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9759435
02/21/14 06:44 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,479
ezgoing
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,479 |
Well thought out. Interesting to read.
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Re: Crappie 101 and Water Temps
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#9759551
02/21/14 07:21 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,963
Beltonbanger©
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,963 |
Good post Ken!!! The fact that you and other folks have fished many lakes all over Texas during spawn gives very good basis to the information. When you just fish a couple lakes, it is hard to make a reasonable decision. Thanks again!
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