Thread: ??? for D10 on gray crappie eggs

It sounds like they are reabsorbing the eggs. When optimal conditions for spawning are not present when the eggs are ripe, some species of fish, such as bass and crappie reabsorb the eggs and put that energy into growth rather than going through the motions and wasting the eggs (energy). Often this happens during springs like this year when temperatures have been up and down a lot. I was working on two lakes yesterday in central Arkansas and the water temps were 80 degrees. It went from 65 to 80 in a blink of an eye. This means that there will be below average crappie spawns around the state this year. But don’t worry, this is a good thing. Crappie fisheries need below average spawning years to increase growth rates of the crappie that are already in the lake. Thanks for the question.


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Great info!

See you just proved that this is educational not an addiction like everybody keeps telling me

Originally Posted by D10

It sounds like they are reabsorbing the eggs. When optimal conditions for spawning are not present when the eggs are ripe, some species of fish, such as bass and crappie reabsorb the eggs and put that energy into growth rather than going through the motions and wasting the eggs (energy). Often this happens during springs like this year when temperatures have been up and down a lot. I was working on two lakes yesterday in central Arkansas and the water temps were 80 degrees. It went from 65 to 80 in a blink of an eye. This means that there will be below average crappie spawns around the state this year. But don’t worry, this is a good thing. Crappie fisheries need below average spawning years to increase growth rates of the crappie that are already in the lake. Thanks for the question.


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So how do the top Crappie lakes in the country grow bigger Crappie with the larger than normal minimal length regulations with this theory? It seems as if they would over populate.

Thanks D10. I'm afraid we are having a very minimal spawn on Dardanelle this year based on what the eggs look like that I am seeing.

Originally Posted by Hammmerhead

So how do the top Crappie lakes in the country grow bigger Crappie with the larger than normal minimal length regulations with this theory? It seems as if they would over populate.

That’s what most don’t understand. The reason why the Mississippi flood control reservoirs (Big 4) grow such large crappie with higher than normal length limits is because they are in productive water (lots of forage) and recruitment is low (below average spawns most years) due to annual drawdowns. Several years ago I was asking the same question as you. So I talked with the biologist in Mississippi who manages these lakes and he told me about the poor recruitment.


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Originally Posted by Lawnmowerman43

See you just proved that this is educational not an addiction like everybody keeps telling me

Does this mean that I get to classify time spent on the forum as work time?


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Originally Posted by D10

Does this mean that I get to classify time spent on the forum as work time?


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Yes sir just clock your time to outreach education

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