Thread: When they disappear

Sounds like some have already given the advice I would . Sometimes early spring or before on warm days when surface temps rise check extremely shallow .

Thanks for the inputs so far. Couple more things I would like to add. I do my looking with a side scan unit when just covering territory. I am bad about not checking shallow when maybe I should reason be I try to focus more on the groups of females that tend to stay off from the spawning spots until they move up to make their egg deposits. Also, water temps hadnt been that warm but for a very short period of time I don't think. I don't think they push up shallow to spawn in just a couple days of warm water do they? The females we have been catching were nowhere near ready to lay eggs. Water temps in upper 50s don't mean much if there aren't eggs I wouldn't think, but then again I may be missing something. I did look shallow on some structure that we fish once spawn starts and didn't see much. Thanks again for the replys.

Well here in Ohio they can move up shallow in a very short time and vice versa.
This past weekend on Saturday I had 2 people tell me they were catching crappie 1' deep in 3 fow. There was ice in the coves 2 days prior to that. Both of the guys had found pockets of 47-50 degree water when most of the lake was at 39-40 degrees. Just because the fish move shallow doesn't mean they are actually up there spawning, they could be up there for food. The very next day we were catching the fish 2-3' off the bottom in 16-18 fow. 2 years ago we were catching fish 2' deep in 20-25 fow in mid Feb.
Some times when we can't find fish were we THINK they should be we just start fishing shallow and find them.

The spawn may still be weeks away, but shad will move into creeks and coves, and crappies will follow them. Not ready to spawn...but hungry!

Originally Posted by maxwell328

Agree with Dux, the Northwest end of the lake always warms up first. One of the most shocking things to me was when Juicy and I were fishing a tournament in November and it was in the 30 degree range and we caught very good fish in 5 FOW fishing 2 FD.

It definitely happens

Originally Posted by crappiemax

Well here in Ohio they can move up shallow in a very short time and vice versa.
This past weekend on Saturday I had 2 people tell me they were catching crappie 1' deep in 3 fow. There was ice in the coves 2 days prior to that. Both of the guys had found pockets of 47-50 degree water when most of the lake was at 39-40 degrees. Just because the fish move shallow doesn't mean they are actually up there spawning, they could be up there for food. The very next day we were catching the fish 2-3' off the bottom in 16-18 fow. 2 years ago we were catching fish 2' deep in 20-25 fow in mid Feb.
Some times when we can't find fish were we THINK they should be we just start fishing shallow and find them.

Right on

Originally Posted by crappiemax

Well here in Ohio they can move up shallow in a very short time and vice versa.
This past weekend on Saturday I had 2 people tell me they were catching crappie 1' deep in 3 fow. There was ice in the coves 2 days prior to that. Both of the guys had found pockets of 47-50 degree water when most of the lake was at 39-40 degrees. Just because the fish move shallow doesn't mean they are actually up there spawning, they could be up there for food. The very next day we were catching the fish 2-3' off the bottom in 16-18 fow. 2 years ago we were catching fish 2' deep in 20-25 fow in mid Feb.
Some times when we can't find fish were we THINK they should be we just start fishing shallow and find them.

Being from Ohio , I relate to this !

Where I fish in Maryland the fish are right on the edge of the dropoffs near the shallow coves. They are even moving up on the shelf on sunny warm days. Water is 42-45 degrees. In 57 degree water I would expect the spawn to be starting correct?