On a recent trip, I noticed something that seems to be occuring in many places right now. I noticed lots of big crappie staged with shad balls at the mouth of spawning coves. It is very difficult to get these egg laden females to bite right now, because they are amongst the shad balls.
We can catch some fish hanging under them mostly males, but tough to get females to bite amongst all the shad. What I believe is happening is the crappie instinctively time thier spawn with the shad spawn. They are staying right there, following the shad to thier spawning grounds where they will also eventually drop thier cargo. They are taking full advantage of the shad, as long as they can. The shad were amongst the crappie most of the winter, in their deep water haunts. Now the crappie and shad are making thier way to spawn. Early in the morning right at first light, look to the banks in the spawning coves. You will see the shad frolicking around in the shallow water, for a few minutes,early every morning . Then they will go deeper as the sun is coming up. They will do this for several weeks, when you see this going on, look for crappie to be close by. Crappie are never too far from the shad. once the spawn is over and the crappie move to deeper brush, they no longer depend on the shad as much, because the brushpiles start to hold algea on them, as the summer sun initiates the growth,then the minnows occupy the brush and timber, . Then what happens is crappie leave the brushpiles at night, in wolfpacks, to travel the underwater highways, trying to find schooling shad in shallow water . to feast., The shad dont go shallow much in daytime, because of threats from predators. at night alot of predators,, seagulls, terns, osprey, ect,, go to roost. The crappie that bite well in daytime, are those who didnt do very wellon the night feed. Crappie feed mostly at night, because baitfish do not have as keen of eyesight as gamefish. I found this out by watching the crappie in my tank., he will stalk minnows but might not take a shot until I turn the light out. as soon as I turn the light out, the minnows seem disoriented, start swimming toward the top of the tank, and he nails one.. like clockork.

great info
good synopsis bro .

Great work bro! good read.

thanks, these are observations that I have witnessed with my own eyes and it has formed a big picture, of understanding some of the secrets nature has kept, by sharing, and considering others personal experiences, we can continue to unlock these secrets.

Keep it comin, LP. Good observations. I, too, like fishin under the pods of shad. Sometimes I get surprised by one of those hybrid bandits. Lots of fun on a 12' rod.

Very Interesting!!

Good stuff Steve!

You must be a lot smarter than me!

Good information thanks

your gonna make me go get myself a HUGE fish tank!

Good stuff there. I'm taking notes.

anyone who night fishes alot will tell you, you almost always get some bites, just as the sun goes down and it gets dark. I think it is a mechanism in nature,. assuring that the fish will survive. The gamefish have almost a free food pass, for just a few minutes, until the baitfish get their bearings back and adjust to the darkness.

thank you very much steve!

Interesting read, Thanks.