They're Back

[Mark Robinson]

The time is here again on Toledo Bends north end. That is if you consider the grouping up and staging of prespawn crappie part of the annual spawning ritual. The schools made up of both male and female crappie are staging in the main creeks that feed Toledo Bends North end. They stay together until the males get that signal to venture out to the shallows to stake claim to the perfect area to attract the egg-laden females.
This past week has been one to remember as far as numbers of staging crappie. The schools will probably stay together in the creeks for a while due to the cool weather fronts that have been almost back-to-back for the past two weeks. We have had a considerable amount of rain and it has brought up the low water conditions we have been experiencing for the past year. I have been checking out all the feeder creeks up on this end of the lake and the story is the same wherever I go, they’re back.
The next step of the process will be when the new water warms to the right temp and the daylight lengthens to the correct amount the males will leave the creeks for the shallows.
Then the females (when conditions are right) will start taking short spawning forays out of the creek channel to visit the males in the spawning areas. In the past this happens over a few weeks or longer depending on the weather and water conditions.
I’ll keep y'all posted as to the progress of the spawn here on Toledo Bend.
Keep what you need. Release the rest. Protect the resource

[gabowman]

What's the surface temps out in the main channels and back up in the shallower creeks?

[ShilohRed]

How deep are they now?
catching them supended ?
pete

[C-More Slabs]

found them stacked up like that at high rock yesterday, good numbers and size.all fish around the bottom in 20 to 27 ft if water.

[Mark Robinson]

the surface temp on the main lake is in the mid to upper 40's but up in the creeks it is in the low 50's. most of the fish are suspended in 20' of water but some are tight to the bottom in 12' to 16'. we are supposed to have a warm week temps in the 70's hope so we have had winter for the past two weeks.

[bentpole]

I got 19 yesterday afternoon here in Alabama,they was suspended also,the water was 48-50 degree surface temp.I noticed when I cleaned them most had egg's.So I guess the season is almost upon us.

[Mark Robinson]

bentpole
I expect they will hang in the creek for a while. The spawning temp is from 64 to 68 degrees i believe. the males are not even in thier spawning colors yet. do you or anybody ealse know how long it takes the males to change to that dark black color?

[Bigbass91]

BentPole where do you fish in Alabama?

[bentpole]

Oneonta,

[bentpole]

Sorry,Bigbass didn't look good,Oneonta where I live.I've been fishin weiss