Here is my take on the spawning period.

Once the water temp gets to the upper 50's, 57 to 59. The males will slowly start moving up into the shallows. When the water temps get to around the mid 60's the females will move up. When the water reaches 67 or higher the spawn should be in full swing. Note I am talking steady temps, meaning just because the temp gets up one day does not mean the crappie spawn is on. Warmer nights where the water water temps don't drop much is a huge plus. At the beginning of the spawn the evenings will always be more productive than the mornings because the water temps will reach its highest point in the afternoon. Once the crappie are commited to the spawn both mornings and evenings are great.

You have 3 main areas of the spawn. Creeks, coves and the main lake areas. Crappie will move in to spawn in that order. Upper creeks will warm up first followed by coves and then the main lake. Once the spawn is about over in the creeks you can still catch them spawning in coves and off the main lake.

With a normal spring if you can say there is one in north Texas, The spawning process should start the 1st part of March and run to the 1st part of May.

There are many other helpful things to know to catch crappie during the spawn. All of reach I teach on my spawn fishing seminar trips the first few weeks of March. These were a big hit last year and I received some great feedback from some of my customers that went on the trips. You can visit my web site for more info.

I personally can't wait tell spring gets here.

Cliff

What would be a good place to wade for them around North Dallas