Thread: Crappie cleaning question....

I think I remember hearing a biologist say that they can carry eggs year round but only spawn when the conditions are correct. I know this has been talked about before and I think that's it.

We caught 3 in Alabama on Saturday morning and 2 had eggs in them.

Weather changes have fish holding eggs because temps never normalize. This is what a couple older fellas told me when we were talking about spawning fish and the lack of.

Originally Posted by duckhunter

This is something I have never seen this time of year. I caught a few fish at Sardis yesterday, and most of the ones I cleaned still had eggs in them. Any guesses as to why this late in the year?

They are the same up here, though the egg sacs are much smaller & a much lighter yellow in color than those caught several weeks ago. That indicates to me that they've partially spawned & possibly still trying to spawn (maybe a little deeper than normal). The yo-yoing water levels & temps from the cold weather & rains has our fish 2-4 weeks behind schedule on spawning.
If your fish don't finish spawning, they will absorb the remaining eggs. They will eventually start producing a new egg sac in preparation for next Spring's spawn.

Have caught fish spawning in may at Grenada . Parked at Choctaw and was the only trailer there . Saw one boat that day go down the lake . This is why I say when it comes to Hunting /fishing " There are no absolutes . "Two years ago I saw a spotted fawn (fully) in December . Strange times .