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Water temp is everything? #11429543 02/22/16 02:52 AM
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The spawn this year has started off with a bang for me so far and it has got me thinking about the things that make fish move up. In the past I have always thought the length of day (along with water temp) triggers the fish to move up. This year I have came to the conclusion that the water temp is the most important factor. I caught spawning fish on February 16th this year (earliest I have ever done so) and think the warm February played the biggest role from what it seems. These fish acted like they have been there for a while (dark and very aggressive bites). Taking this year into consideration I would have to say that water temp is the main factor in order to have fish move up. I know that there are several other factors that come into play but it seems that he water temp is more important. Thoughts?

Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: KidKrappie] #11429640 02/22/16 03:35 AM
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my thought is if the temp was the primary governing factor, we could pattern spawning crappie like clockwork during the spawn, and I dont know anyone who can do it every year, on every lake. water temps up north rarely reach the water our temps do,,, yet they spawn.
Maybe conditions that occur in the fall, when eggs start to develop, actually has something to do with the timing of the spawn.
I have played the temp game way too many times, to have any confidence in it.
Natural biological triggers, moon phase, plankton availability, water stain, currents, and uv light penetration are what I have more confidence in. just my opinion.
A couple years back, we had this same discussion, the consesus was 59-60 degrees.
Bud Baker started catching spawners consistently on cedar creek, with water temps at 54-55 degrees. there just doesnt seem to be a hard consistancy to the temps.

Last edited by leanin post; 02/22/16 03:37 AM.

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 !
Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: KidKrappie] #11429657 02/22/16 03:46 AM
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I'm pretty sure the lakes up north get to 60-70 degrees in the spring.. it just happens later. I'm also not saying that one temp means that they will be spawning on every lake. I do think that the temp to move them shallow is different for every lake. Just seeing what I have this year makes me think that the fish can't just ignore the warming water. The water temps also fluctuate up and down with fronts which is partly why the fish pull out deeper after them and thus harder to pattern.

Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: KidKrappie] #11429660 02/22/16 03:47 AM
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I agree, there are allot of factors to the spawn.


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Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: KidKrappie] #11429661 02/22/16 03:47 AM
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The amount of daylight seems to trigger everything in nature to flourish or diminish. I have to lean towards light penetration more so than temp. However, you have to keep in mind that longer hours of light will increase water temps and maybe this is where the confusion starts. This topic is debated every year about this time. Anymore, I just don't concern myself with it. I just go fish and if I catch...good, if I don't catch...it's still good. fish


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Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: KidKrappie] #11429663 02/22/16 03:49 AM
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Was Bud catching primarily black crappie in the 55 degree water temp?

You do know black crappie spawn at different starting water temps, right?

Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: KidKrappie] #11429666 02/22/16 03:50 AM
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The best temp is also different for white and black crappie. Whites seem to start with temps in the 60's and blacks in the 50's.

Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: SheCrappieKilla] #11429672 02/22/16 03:55 AM
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Originally Posted By: SheCrappieKilla
Was Bud catching primarily black crappie in the 55 degree water temp?

You do know black crappie spawn at different starting water temps, right?


Very true!

Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: KidKrappie] #11429684 02/22/16 03:59 AM
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I am very interested to see what everyone's viewpoint is.

Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: KidKrappie] #11429748 02/22/16 04:28 AM
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Temp is a big part of it, but how deep the water is has to do with that, and also the color of the water. I think the fish will spawn in deeper water than most years. Here in N-E Texas what most years is a hard bottom has 5-6 inch's of mud on it and the grass line from 2 years ago and last years are both out in the water and adding to the mud. Don't think they will try to clean it out.

Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: KidKrappie] #11429777 02/22/16 04:43 AM
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Crappie like cool water it is not unusual to find crappie in the shallows early in the year before the spawn especially with all the high water we have had this year.


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Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: KidKrappie] #11429949 02/22/16 12:37 PM
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they dont always spawn in the warmest water. Look at this from a different angle. I used to believe that crappie were mostly found along northern banks of lakes , coves, river bends ect, due to being protected from a north wind. I now believe that the reason they spawn there, is because of a primarily south blow, most of the year, including late winter months. If you watch the winds, you know that they primarily blow out of the south most of summer and into fall. in late winter, fronts come thru, but then the winds go south again . Its like clockwork, NES.. north, east , south, and then sometimes a short westie, then back to south, until another small northern front comes thru. It blowsa for a day or 2, then back to east, then south.
So what does this have to do with spawn location, it is the availability of the eggs to be fertilized due to plankton being blown into the norther coves slews, banklines.
If water in the coves is gin clear, there is no plankton , they wont spawn there.
If the water is 65 degrees, it dont matter, they wont spawn there.
Ive never sight fished a spawning crappie. just something to consider.
Also when these fronts come thru and crappie move out a little deeper, are we sure its temp related? Maybe its due to massive barometric pressure fluctuations, that always occur during frontal changes.
I just dont think crappie respond to water temp fluctuations all that much as we think. .
Take summertime fishing, they are usually sitting on top of shallower brush piles in the morning, then move deeper during the sunrise. Many believe the water warms and they move deeper. I dont believe water 8 feet under the surface warms that fast, if at all. I believe its the uv light penetration hurts thier eyes, and they move to shade if possible.


Last edited by leanin post; 02/22/16 01:01 PM.

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 !
Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: SheCrappieKilla] #11429956 02/22/16 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted By: SheCrappieKilla
Was Bud catching primarily black crappie in the 55 degree water temp?

You do know black crappie spawn at different starting water temps, right?


why dont you ask Bud?


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 !
Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: KidKrappie] #11429970 02/22/16 12:49 PM
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Hey Bud, were you catching Black Crappie last year when the water temps were around 55ish?

Re: Water temp is everything? [Re: SheCrappieKilla] #11429996 02/22/16 01:12 PM
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Originally Posted By: SheCrappieKilla
Hey Bud, were you catching Black Crappie last year when the water temps were around 55ish?
Sounds like Bud may be weiser on this subject.grin


The driving force and secret desire of every bass fisherman, is to one day be a crappie fisherman............Could it be that the good Lord just smilies and looks the other way when a fisherman tells a lie?
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