Thread: Water temp, time of year, and will they spawn early

It has to be "both" ...
They "can't" spawn until the eggs are fully developed ... and they "won't" spawn until the water temps get within range & stay there (which for your area is about 61deg ... but that's "peak" spawning temps). Just my opinion.

black crappie will start WAY early in the year in some spots .
January might be a push ,but for sure in Texas February they are up and after it shallow
3 or 4 real warm days in a row in late February and you need to be visiting your favorite spawning areas in low light conditions .
that said if its a power plant lake that stays kinda warm they will be doing it in January for sure .
and I know black crappie are said to spawn more than once in Florida because I guess the water don't get all that cold ?
one thing for certain lots of crappie anglers miss prime spawning scenarios waiting for the water temps to get to a certain point .
And many accomplished crappie anglers say EVERY year I am full of it and they are just chasing bait shallow when I hammer them in 3 to 5 foot of water when the water temps . are not what is traditionally "right" for spawning crappie .
the march starts way before march with the speckled ones ….my 2 cents