Fished a creek in the Denton area today and caught between 40 and 50 crappie in 3 hours today but they were all too small. Where are all the keepers? I'm really new to crappie fishing and am not sure how the spawn works with them.

Do the bigger fish move in later? Did they already leave?
Do I just need to keep trying that spot and eventually I'll catch them? And help is greatly appreciated.

Its been my experience that the creeks are usually an early in the spring type thing. Late February through about the end of March. It is probably on the tail end of the spawn in the creeks right now as they usually warm first. I would be looking at main lake coves right now. Not to say there arent any keeper fish in the creeks but the majority of them will probably be small.

Also, It depends on how far up the creek you are fishing. If you are fishing where the whites are with rapids and everything then there are not going to be many good sized crappie up that far. They tend to stay in the deeper calmer water downstream. JMHO

We caught varying sizes. Not a ton of fish but only a few throw backs. Had a monster break us off twice.

I'm catching keeper crappie in pecan creek. I am catching lots of small ones but the keepers are there. All of my keepers have been caught right next to the bank. I guess that's were the water is the warmest.

This particular creek isn't flowing at all, just a branch off the main creek. Maybe I'll give it another day or two. Caught a bunch that were between 9.5 and 9.75 inches but no keepers. The water was pretty muddy also. Do the bigger fish get more active when the water is more clear?

Sounds like someone already caught the keepers...try another creek...