Thread: Reelfoot Lake Crappie Fishing Best in Years

Mainly due to the high water White & Black Crappie Fishing has been the best in Years.

Large Stringers or Ice Boxes are being caught daily usings jigs or minnow or both.
This year is the first time in several years the spawn is going to be late and great due to the high water in the lake. Lake is about 2 feet high today and should make crappie fishing good until the 4th of July.

Spring Spawn is late due to high water for Black Crappie and White Crappie.

Noticed it's your first post. Welcome to the board from MidTN!

Yes welcome to the best fishing fourm on the net.

I have caught several good crappie as late as last week. The spawn is definitely late this year. Hope to catch several more before it slows down!!

I'm pretty sure the spawn is over. Last week was on fire. All the females we caught had dropped.

Sorry to disagree:

I have caught over 500 crappie this week with my clients on Reelfoot Lake.

yesterday - caught 53 and 11 were males the rest were white female crappie - over 30 of them still had their eggs and had not spawn.

I will agree that most of the black crappie have spawn but some have not.

In my opinion the major crappie spawn will happen in June's full moon and even some will spawn bring July's full moon in deep water on the lower end of the lake.

Bluegill are trying to spawn but it will be late this year also due to high water - lake temp on the southend was 69 yesterday and lake is still about 2' feet high. Lots of fisherman caught lots of crappie yesterday and will this weekend.

Al Hamilton
Professional Guide - 50 years

Originally Posted by Cracker68

I'm pretty sure the spawn is over. Last week was on fire. All the females we caught had dropped.

Cracker,
I'm kinda with you on this one. The last stage of the whole spawn process is when the males remain behind to guard the fry. That's where we've been the past few weeks IMHO. I've caught good size and numbers for the past few weeks, but it's been mostly males and that is tapering off. Females I've caught have just had "residue".

Cracker you know you can't argue with "the legend"!! and I thought my handle was humble!!
how are ya Al, welcome to the board.

thanks for the report Legend and welcome to the board'

Reelfoot Lake Crappie Report update

Well this weekend was great for all you crappie fishermen and ladies.
More people fished for crappie this past weekend on Reelfoot Lake than has happen in many years - the last of May 2011.
Mainly due to high water levels and the main crappie spawn being late this year. (information from TWRA staff - and local guides and tourist)

Water temp around 76 to 78 in most areas with lake level still 1' foot and 6 tenths high above normal pool level - top of small gates at Reelfoot Spillway

Next week - bring the full moon - most deep water crappie will spawn in stump areas and logs in the Blue Basin, Bell Stump, Moultrie Field, Buck Basin, Half Moon Basin, Choctaw Basin, and the Nix Field area of Reelfoot Lake.

Bluegill fishing is the best in many years - lots of Bluegill beds are being found by tourist and locals.

Over the week-end -- lot of night fishing for Catfish with Yo-Yo's - large coolers of catfish were caught - on the average about 10 to 15 boats were out on the lake in the Samburg area - fishing for catfish with Yo's - Yo's.

Hope everyone had a great weekend - wealther was next and hot -

Al Hamilton
Professional Guide - 50 years
www.ReelfootLakeGuide.com