Crappie in tributaries year round?

[jigman09]

My home lake is the Wlater F. George reservoir or Lake Eufaula in Alabama...and its HUGE. Which brings me to my question, if adequate depth and cover are found in tributaries will crappie remain there year round and move on flats to spawn or do they always return to main lake after spawn? all creek channels are 30-40 ft deep 1/2 - 3/4 of way back

[Drum_Master]

I think they would stay year round especially in the environment you described. Actually, my largest crappie came from a small creek (< 10 ft deep) roughly 10 miles from its mouth in February last year. I was just "creek fishing" for bluegill, bass, or whatever would bite when that 17.5 incher came outta nowhere! Only crappie caught that day too.

[jigman09]

Appreciate the input bro...congrats on that 17.5'er too. My biggest is 15"

[LittleJohn]

I think as long there is baitfish,cover in the tributaries,then the crappie will be there. If for some reason the baitfish leaves the crappie will follow.
LittleJohn

[cevans]

I think LittleJohn is right,,if the food is there,,they stay there,,if the oxygen level is there,,they stay,,its a matter of right issues that keep them there,,I have Ice Fished the same arms of lakes,,in the winter,,and caught the fish in the same places,,maybe alittle farther out in the arm,,but the things that fish like,,,keeps them there.

[jimmie]

x 2

[bugman]

I fish the upper end of a tributary yearound and there is baitfish there at all times of the year even though the water is not any deeper than 12',one of the things i like about fishin upper ends is that the fish will almost always be shallower than main lake fish because the water is usually stained,another bonus is that the fish tend to be a little bigger on the upper ends.

[thankfull]

They follow their food source.