Thread: small crappie

I caught 17 baby crappie on Priest Monday morning along with 10 stripe 1 cat and 1 bass using live minners. Is it typical for the crappie to be short this time of year? This is the first time I have fished since early spring, the crappie measured in April.

Yes it is. The small crappie start feeding earlier in the fall than the larger fish. Most lakes i think you will see small crappie bite consitantly more than larger fish in the summer and early fall. They dont spawn and thus arent as worn down. They also are trying to grow. Eating gets easier as they get bigger and they get smarter too. The young crappie are always on the move for food and once they begin to spawn then that will dictate what/where/when they do everything else they do. They live to reproduce. If I am worng someone will say so quickly I am sure. This is just my observation.

Originally Posted by WestTennCrappie

Yes it is. The small crappie start feeding earlier in the fall than the larger fish. Most lakes i think you will see small crappie bite consitantly more than larger fish in the summer and early fall. They dont spawn and thus arent as worn down. They also are trying to grow. Eating gets easier as they get bigger and they get smarter too. The young crappie are always on the move for food and once they begin to spawn then that will dictate what/where/when they do everything else they do. They live to reproduce. If I am worng someone will say so quickly I am sure. This is just my observation.

I agree with you WTC

Nice catch, look for deeper water fish maybe bigger.