When do the fish usually begin the spawn? Are they in pre-spawn now?

[Lundman A-14]

Four questions have come to my mind in regards to the spawning of fish,...1. When do the fish usually begin spawning? 2. If they have not yet spawned,are they in their pre-spawn period at this time? Where will I find them when they are starting to spawn? Will they be in shallow water or deeper water?

[BigD]

They first go into pre-spawn when the water hits between 50-55 degrees.

As an example, I live in northeast Ohio. I have been checking water temps every day. We have been around 48 degrees for a week. But we just had two warm days and the water hit 55 degrees in the shallows. So I went out in the middle of the day in my boat into the shallowest water (One and a half feet).

I hit the mother load. All pigs (around 80 in less then 6 hours). Tomorrow will be better.

Here is a pic of what most looked like today,


D

[yankee doodler]

What BidD says. Temp has a lot to do with it.

[filletfetish]

Go to the Archives section. Check Crappie by degress, it will give you all the info you need. Even Cane Poles' little thingy is pretty slick.

[slabsrus]

Right on. 55 - 58 usually has those males coming in getting ready to make the beds. spawning is usually at 62 - 68 degrees. Water from 6 inches as deep as 10 feet. Usually fairly hard bottom and in or near brush, hardstem, reeds, old weeds , etc, but not always. I have a few areas where they come in very shallow as soon as the water hits the mid 40s to feed on minnows. If the temps stay on a steady rise they will often stick around as these areas are also spawning bays. 50 - 55 degrees or so will often have the specks staged around the first deep water near spawning areas.

[GRIZZ]

Here were in post-iceout, which is pre prespawn.