Thread: Crappie "Afetr Dark" during spawn

Will crappie stay in shallows after dark during spawn?

In my opinion and by no means its correct i would say the spawning cycle still has to continue so the males would stay on the beds protecting the eggs, the females might go out to deeper water if a cold front hits

somebody's gotta hold down the fort.

I concur with UD, someone is standing guard!

to a contact of mine. He's a guide and here's what he had to say. Good stuff to know.

Yankee Doodler, Here is how I proceed on Lake Shelbyville in the spring. First of all it is a flood control lake and the fish condition themselves to spawn on the north end about five or six feet of water, at normal pool levels. This year with the high water you can get them right on the bank in new flooded vegetation. We caught about sixty fish on Saturday in less than two-feet of water and the males were still pitch black. Water temp. was 75. Spawn has been over for nearly a month. Males stay and protect nests for at least thirty days after spawn.

On Shelbyville I look for surface temps in the mid to upper fifties. I then start looking for the males to move up into that normal five six foot range and start to take on their dark spawning colors. Then at about sixty-two you will see the first signs of females moving up usually late in the day. About sixty-five to sixty-eight it really gets going especially if you are on a full moon stage. Then you turn around at about seventy degrees surface temp. and it is done.

Normally seventy to eighty degree surface temp. is the worst crappie fishing you will have unless you have rising water or flooded vegetation like we do.

Hope this helps if not go to my website at Fishing Guide Service | Lake Shelbyville Illinois | Steve Welch I have tons of articles published on crappie fishing