in our area the eggs start forming in the fall
I caught a nice 14 1/8" crappie today DEEP, and when I cut it up, noticed she had eggs. My question...when do crappie start forming eggs? Don't they only spawn once yearly?
Don't want to sound stupid with that question, but just wondering...
Mrwillis
in our area the eggs start forming in the fall
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Spawn once a year when water temp gets about 60. Eggs are there in the fall, but right now in the south the sacks are huge and veiny, and they will spawn any day. Then the fun really begins
Crappie will start producing eggs during the late Summer/early Fall, around here. And, yes ... Crappie only spawn once a year, but many people see the developing egg sac in the females during the Fall & think they're spawning in the Fall
This is what I've always thought is the yearly progression of a fish's growth:
SUMMER = moderate to heavy feeding for growth in size/length (highest growth rate in length & weight)
FALL = heavy feeding period to sustain them thru cold conditions/low metabolism periods or sparse feeding opportunities (low length growth & additon to fat stores) Egg development begins.
WINTER = slow metabolic rate & feeding to sustain health (no growth, fat stores used in times of sparse, or lack of, feeding opportunities) Egg development slows - but continues.
SPRING = heavy feeding resumes to sustain fish thru spawning rigors (growth rate in length is slow, but weight gain increases, & fat stores are replenished to sustain fish thru spawning activities) Egg development increases as feeding opportunities increase & water temps increase.
And, as far as the fish are concerned - the seasons are water temp related, more so than air temp or calendar date related. They are cold blooded critters, after all.
... cp
The longer length of sunlight during longer day light hours also triggers the pituitary gland and this with warming water temps triggers the spawn
I have spent most my life fishing........the rest I wasted.
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There is usually always an "egg sack" but it grows and shrinks based on the seasons.
The ones you have to worry about are those crappie who have full,HARD egg sacks in late summer or fall. Those fish didn't spawn for some reason and those eggs will be reabsorbed. Not a good sign for future fishing on that particular lake.
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