crappie

[southernbass]

i was just wondering if anyone knew when crappie start there spawn?
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[RockyRaab]

Various studies indicate that crappie begin nest building when the water temp reaches 55° and spawning peaks at about 58° to 60°. Other studies tie the crappie spawn to daylight hours, with the start at about 13.2 hours of daylight and ending by about 14.6 hours.

As crappie seem to spawn earlier in the south and progressing northward over a period of six weeks or more, I'd tend to go with the water temperature theory.

Here in Utah, I use the appearance of cherry blossoms as my clue. But they feed all year, so the best to time to fish for them is whenever you can.
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[Therapist]

Lake Powell is the best crappie lake in the state, so watch Wayne's Words for up to the date info there. They should be staring pretty soon. After that it is pretty much hit and miss with Gunlock, Willard, East Canyon, and Pineview as the main spots.

[TyeDyeTwins]

I am a Willard Bay fan as well as a Utah Lake fan for Crappie. If only powell were closer!
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[Trout_lover]

Do they hang out in the shallows? I may try Quail Lake and fish for crappie instead of trout.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

[quote RockyRaab]
Here in Utah, I use the appearance of cherry blossoms as my clue. But they feed all year, so the best to time to fish for them is whenever you can.[/quote]

I love it. have to add that to my pharmers almanac, includes planting beans when you can sit bare-bottom on the ground, plant peas when the snow if half off the Wellsvilles, and get your corn knee high by the fourth of July.

[CoyoteSpinner]

As they go into a spawing mode - they will move into shallows. They tend to spawn earlier than some other species (bass, gills), but they might also spawn in phases...

dropoffs, ledges can also be key locations.


I still hit some connecting points - where a river hooks up with a back-water, good spots for feeding on fry.

[southernbass]

I heard when they spawn they like to spam in the rocks? Is this true?
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[Therapist]

Here in Utah due to the lack of brush and trees in our waters, they use rocks. That is why fishing cranks on the dikes at Willard is such a great way to catch cat fish, they are rooting out the crappie fry after they hatch.

Utah lake has shallow cover that they use, but they usually prefer brush in 8-10ft of water. IF I remember correctly, they don't build nests, but attach the eggs to the brush, similar to perch, but will drop the eggs on rocks if brush is not available.

[Trout_lover]

What do they hit on? Mealworms on a jig, nightcrawlers, or shrimp?
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[RockyRaab]

Crappie eat zooplankton and insects, but their major food group is minnows. Jigs are the numero uno choice. Tip them with plastics, real wax worms, crawlers, or (my favorite) Gulp Alive minnows. You can also use small crank baits on ultra-light spinning gear. Fly anglers can use nymphs or streamers.

A small jig on a slip-float rig retrieved very slowly is a classic method. Set the jig just above the depth the crappie are holding because crappie look and feed upwards.

For more tips than you can shake a cane pole at, go to youtube and search for "crappie fishing".
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[CoyoteSpinner]

I like Rocky's answer.

Have some buds that swear by the curl tail grubs. No tipping with nuthing - they laugh at me and my spinners (that still work). Seems the duo-tone is hot, green, white, blue-silver, red-brown- all kinds, many with flickery fluorescent tails.

Custom Sports in Hyde Park has a great selection. Various jig heads work great in combo.

[fearfish]

Them two duds are good peps they have all ways treaded me well ther
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[utahduckhunter]

if you want crappie go to gunlock res it is lot better place to fish crappie quail is a tough lake for crappie fishing
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[idahoron]

Don't forget the farmers long handle underwear rule. You take them off when you plant the beans and you put them on when you harvest the beans. Ron
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[one8sevenn]

I like spinners too. The mepps comet with the blue minnow is great for the slabs.
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