Few yrs ago, Max and I managed to catch some little bitty spawning males in 3 FOW on Fork. We were trying to cull a 1.98 and caught 4 ea 1.96 and 6 ea 1.94 back to back. The 7 little bitty males we took to weigh in hit 15.2 on the official scales. Danged pesky little fish.
Seriously tho, crappie will spawn on any structure that suits them. Big fish will spawn on tree limbs 10-12 ft deep in 25 FOW at LOP. Some spawn shallow, some spawn far away from the bank if trees or other structure are available. Like AQUA11 said, he's seen them spawning on the moss on the Styrofoam under the docks in 35 FOW. They don't all go shallow. But catching them shallow is so much fun, especially wading like Hickory Nut is doing.
As many folks who follow my post over the years know, I dont put much stock in water temps and spawn activities. I ve just proved it to myself so many times by fishing the warmest water in a lake, in suitable areas where there are hard bottoms, rocks, rip rap, cane, all of the supposed prime areas they are supposed to be, and they simply arent there. Crappie spawn where they spawn, when they spawn.. By this I mean they cannot hold eggs until they find the water temp or conditions suitable. I believe the time that they spawn has more to do genetically by when thier eggs begin to grow in the fall. its genetic triggers. I think there is a short window of opportunity that the fish have to lay the eggs, and they do it in the most suitable area they can find, when that genetic trigger occurs. I also believe most of the fish caught shallow are immature males that are run off from deeper spots where the majority of fish spawn, 6 to 22 feet. If 90 percent of the crappie spawn near the bank, then there should be all sizes of crappie caught, not just primarily male dink fish. yes u may catch a decent one now and then, but rarely a nice female. the scenario of the females coming in during a full moonlit night and dropping their cargo to go recover in deeper water is longtime a myth just as water temp is.. . the males and females are together when they spawn. I have proven this to several people who fished with me, and they are shocked. males dripping milt and females oozing eggs.. those small males being caught near the bank can be just one year old. . Right now the barometer is kind of high, and the bite has been off, at least where I fish. soon the weather will stabilize, and it wont be much of a factor. this is all my opinion based on alot of years fishing these fish, and I always start deeper, then work shallower. try it sometimes, you may get surprized. :thumb
I'm glad most do not believe what you said here. I hate to fish in crowds so the more who fish shallow mean less are fishing where I prefer to fish.
Hey some of us just like catching them in the shallows. I was catching big males in 2-3' yesterday. Water was clear. I saw them all chase and take my jig. Good sight fishing day.
should be in a week or two 