Who's catching spawning crappie?

I'm thinking this next and it should be on. With warm nights in the forecast and full moon I'll be beating the shallows with the long pole. Anyone else doing the same? To be continued.....

I can guarantee that I will be checking some shallow spot come the end of next week. Like you said those warm nights back to back should really get the fish moving.

They're in the rivers now. Don't wait. They've been in the slack water next to current breaks for over a month. They've been feeding like they're starving. 80% of them are 13 to 15 inches. They bite just as good in 48 degree water.

None that have laid there eggs yet, but a lot that is sure ready. I have got on some good ones in 4-8 foot of water but have no idea what happens next.

With the mild winter we are having it is a very good chance the spawn will start earlier. Guessing next week. Been catching a lot of females with eggs.

Not yet here...

I'm headed out to lake placid in about 10 hours from now. Should know then whether or not they are spawning, since the spawn is the ONLY time I can catch crappie.

No shallow fish on the main lake yet, but been catching some shallow fish in the creeks.

+1

Fished Placid on Saturday and all that happened in shallow creeks was the guy I was fishing with caught a short one... not quite time was our consensus.

I've been told three consecutive nighttime lows in the upper 50's. Looks like its going to happen wed, thur Fri so Saturday should be good shallow. I'll let you guys know but I think the ice chest is going to be full this wkd.

We still have mid 30's in the AM, but I'm gonna be there Saturday anyway. They will be somewhere!!!

The warm nights back to back are key.

Granger lake yesterday caught my first of year shallow, pitching a cork in a cove.
Only caught 1, but it was 13 inches and it nailed the jig in 2.5ft. of water.

That is the earliest I can remember for me to catch them.....

Water temp was 59.5.

That was the only bite.

Never fails people start getting antsy right about now, Keep a watch on water temps, this will dictate everything

Headed to a favorite shallow area this morning. Bumped into Banger and Brian T up the creek. Water temp was 57 and made 59 by 11am. Shad were in the area; starting to look good. Managed 6 in about 20" of water. They weren't spawning but they were sure thinking about it.
Besides the right water temp, the eggs have to mature before they can be expelled.

Picked up these fatties from my favorite south Texas reservoir last Friday anywhere from 6-18"
Beating the bank with my long pole! There was a good mix of males and females some that had already spawned! I'm sure the back to back fronts would slow them down till this Saturday.
Nothing like feeling the "thump" on a jig while using your long pole.

I found some fish 10" to a ft deep in a creek today. They weren't spawning but I could tell they were males.

Wont be long!!!

Looking good guys. Fish in a foot of water and temps near 60 is what I like to hear. Going to be on by Saturday fo sho! Can't wait.

58 Degree water...enough info to catch them anywhere...

Thanks for the info Kevin. I was planning on hitting the shallow water at Granger on Sunday along with some of the transition brushpiles.

I'll be out tomorrow with clients Scott. Will give report Friday.

Yes, there are a few that have moved shallow.......

+1

This front might slow them down and it was a grind on Saturday but we picked up a few!

Nice ones Matt! Gonna hit it next week.


Side Note: Far east side is on fire. The stick-ups you found last year are paying off!

Pretty fish. Looks like a male on the bottom right?

For those of you wondering, that really dark white crappie (so dark some might think its a black crappie) on the bottom right of this pile is a perfect example of your stereotypical male spawn crappie. If you find those guys, the ladies are sure to be close by!

Yup. That's right. It's a male on the front right and a female on the left. There is only one black crappie in the whole group hard to see but I think it's fourth from the top on the left.

Caught these last week on Choke Canyon only three females. First ledge from the rocky banks 1.5 to 3 ft of water.

That's a pile and a report!

Nice pic hickory!

Wow hickory great work. How many did y'all end up with? What were they biting?

I had a thermocline black emerald shiner 18" below a slip bobber. Would flip it in about 10" of water and move it until it stood up straight wind would move it along until a crappie grabbed it. I had 24 and my fishing partner had 22 at 4 pm when we went in to pick up a friend who came down to fish. Went back out and ended up with 64.