Stomach Contents

When I clean Stockton crappie about this time each year, their stomach contents seem to be devoid of shad and instead contain a few small green organisms. It seems to coincide with the mayfly hatch. Do you think these are mayfly nymphs or are they probably just zooplankton? Also, why the lack of shad. Is it because they have lost contact with the shad during the spawn, or are they just too worn down from the spawning rigors to invest the energy to chase baitfish?

small shripm

This time of year they have to feed on invertebrates because last year's shad are generally now too big for them. Gizzard shad grow very fast and by late fall are often too large for most crappie to eat. Threadfin shad grow slower but unfortunately we are little too far north for them to survive our winters.