Disclaimer: I posted this last year. I revised and added a bit...
Since the recent rain has put some frown faces among us for a few days, I thought it would be a good refresh to some, and helpful to others. Newbies who are seeking for spawning crappie, this blog is dedicate for you! As long as you guys keep in mind that English is still my second language, but crappie fishing is my first....hehehe...




Recently, time seems to be non-existing in my world. Besides, I haven't blog lately; I thought I would mustard up something for the sake of reading during this span of suckie weather. Excuse me as it may get long for some...

Spawning crappie...
As it gets closer to best time of the year for crappie fishing, many are anxious to get back to their favorite holes from last year. For the novices, there will be post after post asking when will they spawn? At what temperature would they start spawning, and where are the likely location? and at what depth?...etc. Soon there also will be post after post showing off lots of awesome pitch black looking crappies, and there might be even a question or two whether that's a black crappie or a white crappie....
I am writing this not so much for the experienced spawn slaughters, but rather for the spawn seekers. Although I won't be able to cover everything, it�s because I won't remember it all. And to be honest, I don't know everything, and nobody does. However, it's something to give some newbies a better understanding of spawning crappie.
Some say that crappie would start spawning in late Feb. or the mid of March. Some say it'd spawn all the way to June and so on... Not all lakes will spawn at the same time, and actually not all part of the lake will spawn of the same time. It's not the 1st or 2nd moon precisely, but rather the TEMPERATURE of the water. But (yes, there is always a biggo �BUT�), water temperature isn�t always enough to locate your spawning crappies. Don�t be surprised to find a cove or creek with favorable water temperature, yet no crappies to be found. Take notice that in such areas, there isn�t much of any bait fish either. This should trigger us to add another variable into it all: Water Temp + Covers + Bait Fish = Spawning Crappie Action!
Our Southern part of TX would spawn before some of the Northern ones, and it's no mystery. It's the water temp which help trigger the activities of bait fish and favorable covers which dictate the spawn. Longer day and shorter night from Southern sun will help heat up the Northern shoreline. This equate to Southern portion of the lake to spawn later then the Northern portion. Once again, water temperature + bait fish are the primary key...
Although crappie will start moving shallow when the water temp reaches 62degree, but most won't be in full swing until the water reaches 66degree to 68degree. You can find crappie spawning all the way up 75degree. As the water gets warmer than 75degree, spawning is about over with some exception of early morning or late evening. Keep in mind that once they are shallow, they can be as shallow as less than a foot in depth.
Most of spawning crappies we see are males because the male crappies do the fanning of their nests (anywhere from 6"-4' deep), but the females are usually not far away in just a few feet deeper. During the full moon within the spawn, the females would move in and drop their eggs. Finding females in their nests is short live. The males continue to stay to watch the eggs before leaving their nests as the water temperature get warmer...
There is a love hate relationship between man and nature when it comes to spring spawning crappie. Mother-nature is something we can't control. Often times, anglers get caught dressing too warm or too light during the Spring. Be ready to expect the unexpected as the weather changes day by day. Although you may find them in shallow already, a sudden snap of a hard cold front will definitely push them back to deeper water the very next day. The delay in the spawning process can be a few days, or even a week or two. Water clarity plays an important role in water temperature. Black crappie can't tolerate muddy water as well as the white cousin. However, the murkier water will heat up quicker than the clear water. Also, lake level fluctuation is something to consider. Sudden drop or rise will have a big effect in their bedding. Luckily, not all crappies would spawn at the same time. As much as it might frustrate anglers, mother-nature and crappies have a much tighter relationship year after year. The key to anglers is to be out on the water as often as you can and be prepared for fishing condition changes as the weather changes. The best time to go is still whenever you can.
Here are some tips to watch out for....
WHEN: (varies depending on the body of water...)
1) Spawning starts when water temperature reaches 62-65degree
2) Spawning in full swing usually occurs when water temperature reaches 68-72degree
3) Right before a hard cold front within the spawning period
4) Right before an expected big rain as the lake level will change
WHERE:
1) Focus on Northern coves where water temperature is more idealistic first...
2) Creek banks and shallow coves with deep creek running through is better than consistently flat coves
3) Stay away from soft or muddy bottom. Crappie doesn't like to fan in the mud
4) Firmer bottom such as gravel, grass bed, hydrillia, rock rip rap are areas not to overlook
5) Steep banks, especially with pockets underneath (don't ever overlook the hanging roots!)
6) Log lay downs, bushes, cat tails, any stickup
7) Low overhanging trees with shades
Center of cove tree-lines/timbers (5'-8' is where you may find some bigger females)
9) NEVER skip a beaver dam
10) Of course where ever snakes love to hang out....
HOW:
1) Long rod tight lining is still my favorite. This is when you can actually feel every thunder thump!!!
2) Put on a pair of waders and a 10'-12' rod
3) 7'-9' rod if you are on boat
4) Casting and SLOW SLOW SLOW reeling (bending hook inward to help locate and loose less jigs). Using a lightest jig you can. Casting 20' is still covering a lot of water.
5) Casting slip cork and jig (1' to 18" below the cork) toward the shallow and work back slowly. This is best when you wish to cover areas where it's too shallow for your boat to access without disturbing the spawning bed. Keep in mind that a heavier jig (1/8oz) and proper size slip cork is better a light jig. A light jig is best to tight lining, however, a light jig will NOT sink to your preset depth easily.
6) Minnows/Jigs/Roadrunners will all work well. Don't forget that gold fish is better in very murky or muddy water
7) Don't use small hook size; bigger hooks (from #4 to #2) help secure your hooksets on active crappie

This recent weather has taken an toll out of many of us in the north TX region. I hope this may help on days like today when we look out the expected 3" of snow thru our windows. I am 100% sure that I may miss some very important key facts in finding and catching spawning crappie so please view this as a comprehensive and general guidelines for some of our newbies in crappie fishing....

Thanks for the tips! I hope to give it a try on Friday if work and weather allow. Good luck out there!

Thats good info!! thanks for posting it

Thanks for sharing!

Nice collection of tips.

BigDozer66

Great post Slab! thanks! one other tip: ( I fish mostly creeks)

when fishing the creek bank, use a "pencil style" float, like a 'thill", so you know if your jig is on the bottom, the float won't stand up, you can adjust it quickly with the spring mechanism, giving you the advantage to change depths, if fishing right up against the bank, or a little farther out...(love walking that creek bank with a jig and cork....priceless!)

Could you give some details...i mean sheeesh...put a little effort into it. Talk about phoning it in. (jk obviously)

Good stuff again cv

I'll try to remember that, but at my age, it's not looking good. LOL I'm going to Granger this weekend without boat, so unless someone shows up at the ramp and wants a fishing buddy, I'll probably be along the shore line.

Thanks, this is very helpful...

Sounds like a plan to me!!!! Great advice!!!!!

Many thanks.

Thank CV for the info. I am a newbie so I am soaking in.

One question: if you fish with a slipping cork and jig, how far above the bottom do you fish?

If you fish for the male fanning the nest, then I guess 6 inches? What about the female that staying out in deeper water?

Excellent info and thanks, CV. It always pays to go back to basics when the game is on. This year I'm also going to add this tactic:
if I catch a couple of good male fish in shallow water (< 3') I'm going to turn around with my 12' tight line and fish on the opposite side of the boat in a bit deeper in the same vicinity. I've seen those big mamas out there hanging and waiting. It just takes a couple of minutes to find out.