Surprisingly, the male white crappie made a big move shallow yesterday, despite the front moving through. After things calmed down yesterday afternoon, my son and I slipped out to hit a few traditional spawning spots in a major tributary mid-lake and it was on. He spanked me (as always) with small minnows and slip cork about 3', while I caught a few with weighted bobber/jig combo about 2' down. All 12-15" males, except one female.

The key is to find two things; protected pockets/shoreline indentations with isolated stump groups. As you all know, everything at Fork looks good. But there are old fields and hay meadows that have isolated stump lines along old fence rows, or stump clusters that are not part of a "forest". Find these, preferable on the eastern side of a tributary so it gets afternoon sun, and you'll find them in 3-5' of water.

The other thing I've noticed is the significant increase in big white crappie over the past 2-3 years. The recent Crappie Masters tourney result highlighted this. Traditionally, our dominant species has been black crappie, but the whites are coming on strong. I believe they spend more time year round in the creeks and around shallower cover, while the blacks seem to roam more chasing shad. Perhaps the whites increasing more than the blacks is why the winter bite has decreased the past two years. These whites do not spend that much time in deep, open water. Anyway, go get you some, 'cause it's on!

Great job!

Nice Catch!!! I will add if you find these males all colored up in there Sunday cloths in that shallow water, move out just a bit to a little deeper water and the big females will more than likely be there. This time of year is awesome time for the kids to catch them cause they are on and when you find them they will bite almost anything you put out in front of them.

Way to go Dad! Good thing there weren't many more on that stringer. Looks like that is about all he can hold.

Awesome Catch WTG !!!

Well done! And great information, thanks.

interesting thought on the dominant species thing
looks like you got into some spawners right there
very nice ...
KABOOM

What was the water temp in the area you caught your fish? I took my son to a local lake here in DFW last Friday and it was bad to say the least. We only used jigs in water from 3'-10' for over 2 hrs without a single bump. We jigged every tree in the cove, lol. Water temps for us were 55-58 degrees.

Water temp was only 57.1, so it actually was colder than Friday. Funny thing, as I think these males simply know it's time based on length of days and moon cycles. Short of a major front, which is not predicted, they're heavy into nest building if you can find those specific areas. As other crappie guides and gurus have said, move fast and efficiently until you find them, then stop and hammer down!

Nicely done Dad
Thanks for sharing

Love that stringer of fish. Nicely done!

Man that's fun ain't it!!! Good job dad!!

Great job and great post. Very informative. Thanks.

Very nice catch, I haven't fished Fork since my parents moved away from there 7 years ago. I used to fish it numerous times per year.

I am from Ohio and the movements and depths of the white versus black crappie you are seeing is exactly the opposite of what the crappie do in Ohio. The whites are deep water roamers in summer and winter, the blacks can always be found much shallower in the creek arms.

I just arrived today at my mothers house near Lake Palestine. Pulled my boat down from the cold north wasteland of Ohio to spend a week taking her crappie fishing.

Great report. I was heading to Fork Fri, now I am thinking of taking Fri off and heading that way Thurs am.
Thanks for the info.