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Willard Crappie Spawn
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03-06-2016, 07:52 PM
When do Crappie start to spawn in Willard?
What factors determine when the spawn starts? Is Pineview usually a few weeks behind Willard for the spawn. [signature] 
03-06-2016, 08:58 PM
[#0000FF]As you no doubt know/suspect, the major factor is most species spawning routine is water temperature. In Willard the crappies start moving in as soon as the water gets over about 45 degrees and the spawn usually happens after about 60 degrees.
My fishing logs from last year show my first crappie from Willard came right about March 1...but the ice came off by mid February last year. The fish did not really start showing up in numbers until after the first of April. On April 21 I caught over 25 crappies...and the water was 56-58 degrees...and the females were ripe and swollen...ready for action. On May 1 the fish were in spawn mode, with the water temp bumping over 60 late in the day. I caught another 25 to 30 fish and then left them alone after that. But the happy harvesters were taking home multiple limits every day. Some years I have caught my biggest (16") Willard crappies after the first of June. By then the spawn is mostly over and the HH crowd has thinned out. But the crappies are in post spawn feeding mode, along with the walleyes. Being at higher altitude and being deeper, Pineview usually sees a slightly later crappie spawn. But not much. They come in shallow where the water warms quickly in springtime sun. Late April through May...depending on variables in weather...will usually produce fish somewhere around the shoreline. And, I have seen gravid females into June. [/#0000FF] [signature] 
03-06-2016, 09:36 PM
Here is a post TD made last year when the crappie were hot at Willard:
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...ie;#931560 Here is a post MBM1969 made in 2014 when the crappie were hot at PV: http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...ew;#884082 I've sure ever year is different but water temp is usually what gets any fish in the spawning mode. In these two lakes it appears there is about a month difference in spawning times but no telling when they started. [signature]
03-07-2016, 03:43 AM
We caught a ton of crappie at Willard last year during the pre-spawn stage.
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03-07-2016, 05:18 PM
Thank you for the great info, TubeDude.
You are a wealth of knowledge. I hope to spend a lot of time at Willard this year. [signature]
03-07-2016, 05:24 PM
[#0000FF]Me too.
Lemme know when you wanna go and maybe we can gang up on a few. Will be PMing you the links to some of the new info I have put together on Willard. [/#0000FF] [signature]
03-07-2016, 06:58 PM
Got your PM, Pat.
Lots of great info. Thanks. Dale. [signature]
03-07-2016, 09:27 PM
Is the floatilla going to be at Willard again his year? It would be nice to go this time, and I need to know how hard I need to work on making myself look better. Don't want to get punched in the mouth for some of my jerky comments on here.
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03-07-2016, 09:34 PM
[#0000FF]Don't usually have "floatillas" for crappies. They get hit hard enough as it is...and there are usually too many harvesters competing for any available fish. I personally like to launch in stealth mode and may or may not post a report.
But we have had "all species" floatillas with boats, tubes, toons, 'yaks and any other kind of floatable fishing craft welcome. Those are great to finish off with a fish fry and potluck. Might have to plan one on Willard this year if we get good water and good fishing. No need to fear physical assault for anything said on this forum. If you get too far out the mods will just send you off into cyberspace. If you choose to get personal with someone...well, you're on your own. Fishin' is better than fightin'. We still gotta get together somewhere...maybe on Utah Lake when that warms up a couple of degrees. I hear the walleyes callin'. [/#0000FF] [signature]
03-07-2016, 10:30 PM
Right, the all species floatilla. I don't really fear physical violence, though maybe I might get educated a little on Utah Lake fish.
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03-09-2016, 12:00 AM
Hey we are planning on another flotilla this spring and Willard turned out to be a great location last year other than the weather so I think we will try that again this year and probably April / May time frame. Keep an eye open for the invite it's always a great time to meet other BFT'ers and hopefully we'll even catch a few fish. Later J
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03-09-2016, 12:57 AM
Concur with TD,
The attached picture was taken on 21 Apr last year. Three of us caught our limit in less then an hour and then went after walleye. Unfortunately a few days later my job took me out of the country for the next 5 weeks and when I returned the bite was over. I like fishing Willard for wipers and walleye...it is a bonus when the crappie bite turns on. [signature]
03-09-2016, 05:12 AM
Looks like a great day!!! Nice haul. Later J
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